Doctors' body flags excessive duty hours of PG medicos in Kerala, seek govt intervention

New Delhi: Expressing concern over excessive duty hours of PG medical students, which could pose risks to patient safety, a doctors' body has written to the Kerala Health Department, seeking urgent intervention.

The United Doctors Front (UDF), led by its Chairperson Dr Lakshya Mittal, has requested the government to constitute an independent enquiry team on duty hours of PG students to verify whether statutory regulations regarding duty hours are being properly implemented in medical colleges across the state.

In a letter to the Principal Secretary of the Kerala Health & Family Welfare Department, Dr Lakshya Mittal raised serious concerns regarding the excessive and unlawful duty hours being imposed on postgraduate (PG) medical students in various medical colleges and hospitals across Kerala.

Also read- RTI exposes gruelling duty hours, burnout crisis among resident doctors at AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC

The association highlighted that PG medical students in the state are being told to attend extremely long duty hours beyond permissible limits. “Such practices not only violate established legal provisions but also pose a significant threat to patient safety. Continuous excessive working hours severely affect the physical and mental well-being of resident doctors, leading to exhaustion, depression, psychological distress, and in some cases even forcing students to leave their postgraduate seats,” the association stated in the letter.

Citing existing rules, UDF Chairperson Dr Lakshya Mittal pointed out that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India had issued directives regarding the regularisation of medical education in Writ Petition (Civil) Nos. 348–352 of 1985. Pursuant to these directions, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, through Notification No. S.11014/3/91-ME(D) dated 05.06.1992, introduced the Uniform Central Residency Scheme.

As per the 1992 Residency Scheme, the maximum duty hours for resident doctors are 12 hours at a stretch and 48 hours per week. These provisions constitute the law of the land and are applicable to both government and private medical colleges across India. Dr Mittal noted that non-compliance with these rules not only exploits medical students but also compromises patient safety.

UDF also referred to the National Medical Commission (NMC) Task Force Report (2024), stating that it clearly highlights how excessive duty hours adversely affect the physical and mental health of medical students and compromise patient safety. The report reiterates that resident doctors should generally not exceed 12 hours of continuous duty per day and 48 hours per week, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Residency Scheme (1992).

The letter further mentioned that the Government of Kerala had earlier issued GO (MS) No. 20/09/H&FWD dated 13.01.2009 for the implementation of the residency programme in the state. It also noted that several states and premier institutions have taken steps to ensure compliance with the 1992 Residency Scheme, including the Government of Karnataka (Letter No. DME/PGS/105/2023-24 dated 01.03.2024), AIIMS (Order No. F.1-2/Misc/2025-Acad.I dated 21.08.2025), and the Government of Maharashtra (order issued in March 2026).

Despite such directives, Dr Mittal stated that some medical colleges continue to follow outdated practices, including the preparation of manipulated or forged duty records through altered duty rosters.

In view of this, UDF Chairperson Dr Lakshya Mittal requested the Government to constitute an independent “Enquiry Team on Duty Hours of PG Students” to verify whether duty hour regulations are being properly implemented across medical colleges in the state.

"If any violations or irregularities are found, appropriate legal action may kindly be initiated under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 146, 337, 340, 344, or any other applicable laws. Such timely intervention will be crucial for safeguarding public health, ensuring patient safety, and protecting the dignity and well-being of medical students," the letter read. 

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Mittal said, "PG medical students in Kerala are being made to work beyond the legally permitted duty hours, which not only affects their health but also puts patient safety at risk. When doctors are overworked, it impacts their ability to provide safe and effective care. We have urged the state government to set up an independent enquiry team to ensure that duty hour norms are strictly followed across all medical colleges."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the United Doctors' Front had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the "inhumane working hours of resident doctors". The association challenged the "exploitative and unconstitutional working conditions imposed on resident doctors across the country". The plea, filed through Advocates Mr Satyam Singh and Ms Neema AOR, sought urgent intervention from the Apex Court to enforce compliance with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's 1992 directives notification.

Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by MP Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, submitted its 172nd report on 18.03.2026. Taking note of the huge vacancies in the posts of faculty members and residents at the central government medical institutes, the Parliamentary Health Committee expressed concern about the excessive workload of doctors.

In the report, the panel highlighted the possibility of clinical errors and burnout resulting in compromised patient safety and recommended formulating and strictly enforcing a "Clinical Duty Hours Regulation" policy with mandatory rest periods and monitored rosters. Following this, UDF Chairperson Dr Mittal wrote to the Union Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda, seeking urgent implementation of the same.

Also read- Maharashtra caps resident doctors' duty hours at 48 per week, enforces 1992 residency scheme