Long duty hours, harassment, burnout, suicides: Doctors' body moves PM Modi, Health Minister, NMC, MUHS seeking intervention

Mumbai: Highlighting severe burnout among doctors due to long working hours, lack of workplace safety and harassment, a doctors' body in Maharashtra has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and the National Medical Commission (NMC), seeking intervention.

The Maharashtra State chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), while raising concerns over the ongoing issues faced by doctors and medical interns, has sought effective implementation of prescribed working hours, workplace safety measures and grievance-redressal mechanisms for postgraduate residents and medical interns.

In its representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NMC Chairman, Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda and the Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, the association highlighted four key areas of concern.

Long working hours

The association referred to the Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992, which envisages that continuous active duty for resident doctors should ordinarily not exceed 12 hours, that junior residents should ordinarily work 48 hours per week, and that residents should receive a weekly holiday by rotation, subject to exigencies of work.

The NMC Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023 recognise the importance of the mental well-being of postgraduate students and provide for reasonable working hours, reasonable time for rest and a weekly holiday, subject to exigencies of work.

Despite these provisions, the association said that the implementation at the institutional level remains inconsistent and that duty rosters may not always reflect the actual hours worked. As a result, IMA stated that residents may continue to remain on duty beyond reasonable limits because of workload or departmental requirements.

To prevent this, IMA requested the Ministry to issue appropriate directions to the concerned authorities and institutions for effective implementation and monitoring of the applicable working-hour and rest provisions.

Recent concerns reported from Maharashtra

IMA highlighted the case of a first-year MD resident in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, who reportedly sought to relinquish her postgraduate seat amid allegations of mental harassment, prolonged duty hours and inadequate rest.

The association noted that the allegations require examination by the appropriate authority in accordance with due process. However, the association said the matter highlights the importance of providing residents with a safe mechanism to raise concerns before a situation reaches such a stage.

It also cited the case of a first-year DNB General Surgery trainee who reportedly made a second suicide attempt after being suspended by the hospital. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a first-year DNB General Surgery trainee at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, reportedly made a second suicide attempt after being suspended by the hospital. Months earlier, she had approached the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), alleging ragging, mental harassment, excessive duty hours and unfair treatment during her residency.

The doctor, who joined Saifee Hospital as a DNB Surgery trainee in February 2026, was placed under suspension by the hospital on September 2. In its suspension order, the hospital directed her not to enter its premises without prior written permission and asked her not to influence any person or witness connected with the matter. 

Following the suspension order, the medico allegedly consumed cresol syrup in a second attempt to take her life after suspension.

On this, IMA stated, "The matter demonstrates the need for complaints raised by trainees, as well as disciplinary action taken by institutions, to be examined through a fair, impartial and time-bound process, with due regard to the safety and well-being of the trainee concerned."

IMA also referred to the case of a young medical officer posted at Phaltan Sub-District Hospital, who reportedly attempted suicide at Sion railway station on August 27, 2026, and subsequently died at Sion Hospital on August 31, 2026. It was reported that the doctor took the extreme step due to alleged workplace harassment, administrative pressure and external interference. Following the incident, the hospital medical superintendent was suspended, and a police investigation was initiated.

"We do not intend to prejudge the findings of any inquiry or investigation. These cases, however, emphasise the need for institutional systems through which doctors and trainees can report workplace concerns promptly, confidentially and without fear of victimisation," the association stated in the representation.

Need for stronger institutional monitoring

The doctors' body further cited the data from the Maharashtra State Medical Education Department which was reported in 2024. According to the data, 85 postgraduate medical students in Maharashtra discontinued their PG courses during the preceding five years, while 11 suicides among postgraduate students were reported during the same period.

IMA also raised concerns over seat-leaving bonds and penalties, noting that Maharashtra has historically imposed substantial financial liabilities on residents leaving postgraduate courses. The association said that such financial penalties could place an additional burden on residents seeking to discontinue their training due to serious personal, mental health or workplace-related circumstances.

Therefore, the association stated that such cases require a fair, transparent and case-specific mechanism rather than an approach that may inadvertently compel a resident to remain in an unsafe or seriously detrimental environment.

Inclusion of resident welfare in institutional assessment 

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) conducts assessment and rating of medical institutions and plays an important role in matters relating to postgraduate medical education and seats. IMA has requested that, within the existing statutory and regulatory framework, resident welfare and working conditions be appropriately incorporated into the institutional assessment process.

The association proposed the following measures:

1. Verification of actual duty rosters and attendance records of PG residents and interns. 

2. Assessment of compliance with prescribed working hours, rest periods, weekly holidays and leave provisions.

3. Verification of adequate hostel, sanitation, security and basic welfare facilities.

4. Assessment of mechanisms dealing with ragging, bullying, harassment and intimidation. 5. Verification of functional grievance-redressal mechanisms.

6. Assessment of availability of confidential counselling and mental-health support.

7. Confidential interaction with residents during inspections to enable them to raise genuine concerns without fear of retaliation.

8. Review of institutional action taken on complaints relating to resident welfare and safety.

It further requested the authorities to ensure uniform implementation of prescribed working hours, rest periods and weekly holidays for postgraduate residents and establish clear standards for medical interns.

The association has also sought digital monitoring of duty rosters and attendance records, confidential and time-bound grievance mechanisms for reporting excessive duty hours, harassment, bullying and ragging, independent grievance-redressal systems with safeguards against victimisation and 24×7 mental health support.

It also urged the authorities to protect residents from retaliation for raising genuine concerns, and ensure that complaints and counter-allegations are dealt with fairly and in accordance with due process. IMA Maharashtra has further sought a review of seat-leaving bonds and penalties, particularly in cases involving documented mental-health concerns, harassment or unsafe working conditions, with provision for case-by-case exemptions.

Also read- Resident duty hours, mental health, stipends: Doctors' body seeks NMC intervention on 8 concerns