Gandhi Medical College Bhopal Fixes 8-12 Duty Hours for Resident Doctors Amid Toxic Work Culture Allegations

Bhopal: Amid the pressure from the medical students to address the allegations of toxic work culture allegations at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, the institute has now finalized 8-12 duty hours and weekly off for the medical students.

Confirming this, the GMC Dean Kavita N Singh told FPJ, "Roster system has been finalised for residents and we have fixed 8 to 12 hours duty and weekly off for the students. It will ease pressure and develop a healthy work culture."

The General Secretary of JUDA, Dr. Kuldeep Gupta also confirmed that "In a meeting of the college council, GMC dean has fixed duty hours to 8-12 for PG students. The junior doctors will also get weekly offs."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that alleging a toxic work culture, 5 resident doctors of GMC Bhopal had threatened to commit mass suicide on 31st May 2024 if the authorities did not address their complaints. The doctors demanded the authorities to stop the non-stop working hours which they alleged sometimes get extended up to more than 24 hours and sometimes 36 hours. They urged the authorities to ensure a healthy working environment and to stop the toxicity and abuse.

Further, the PG medicos alleged being forced to work for more than 24-36 hours without sleep. They also claimed that they were not getting leave even for one day- even on Sundays. The doctors allegedly have to work even when they fall sick.

Also Read: Toxic Work Culture allegations rocks Gandhi Medical College Bhopal: 5 resident doctors threaten mass suicide

Apart from this, the resident doctors claimed in the letter that they have to face verbal abuse by seniors and consultants even after doing so much work. They alleged that they are being threatened as well of failing the exam and not receiving their degrees.

The doctors had flagged the issue of alleged toxic work culture in a letter directed to the Chairman of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA). Dr. Rohan Krishnan, the Chairman of FAIMA, had earlier informed that FAIMA had already formed a committee, headed by him, to address the issue. The association had appointed consultant psychiatrists and also discussed the matter with the leaders of the Junior Doctors' Association of Madhya Pradesh and the Resident Doctors' Association of GMC Bhopal. FAIMA also reached out to the dean of the institute, who had earlier assured to offer a positive solution regarding the issue.

As per the latest media report by Free Press Journal, the Dean of the institute has now finalised a 8-12 hours of duty roster system. However, the Daily added that the 'Dean of the Institute and the medical college professors are at loggerheads' over the fixation of 8-12 duty hours (roster system) for junior doctors.

Speaking to FPJ, the President of the Medical Teachers Association Dr. Rakesh Malviya pointed out that the training for the junior doctors is just like commando training.

He said, "Our medical training is to save the life of patients and not to discharge mere duty. This is the reason doctors are called next to God and we get so much respect in society. So 8 -12 hours duty hardly matters."

"Junior doctors should accept this hard core fact that if they want to become full-fledged doctors (consultant), they should be mentally prepared just like commandos to save the life of patients. Anonymous letter does not serve the purpose. If any student has a problem, he or she should directly talk to us," Dr. Malviya added.

Also Read: MBBS doctor preparing for NEET PG commits suicide