Resident doctors Duty hours capped! MGM Medical College Indore implements 1992 residency scheme

Indore: In a relief for resident doctors, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College, Indore, has implemented the 1992 Residency Scheme under which resident doctors will now work no more than 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week.

In compliance with the scheme, the college administration has directed faculty members to prepare duty rosters for resident doctors, ensuring weekly offs as per the rules. 

Dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria has also directed that the actual working hours of all residents be recorded to ensure clear compliance with the rules in every department.  

The Residency Scheme was implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare India on June 5, 1992, following directions from the Supreme Court of India, clearly limiting resident doctors’ duty hours to 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week.

Also read- 300 medicos leave PG seats in Maha, 25 suicides reported- Doctors flag 24-36 hour duties as systemic failure

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about a special investigative report published by Dainik Bhaskar on April 23 on the illegal 36-hour continuous duties of resident doctors in medical colleges. As per the report, around 300 resident doctors are leaving their postgraduate seats in government medical colleges in Maharashtra every year, reportedly due to excessive workload and long duty hours. The report also pointed out how junior and senior residents are frequently required to work continuous 24 to 36-hour shifts, leading to severe mental and physical stress. In the past few years, 25 deaths from suicide have also been reported, allegedly linked to this pressure.

Despite the existing 1992 Residency Scheme, the Dainik Bhaskar investigation found that these rules are often not followed in practice in several government medical colleges and hospitals in Maharashtra. Resident doctors, who work for 24 to 36-hour shifts, get only an hour or two-hour break and inadequate rest.

Expressing concern, United Doctors Front (UDF) termed the practice as "exploitation" of doctors and questioned when they would be allowed to work under normal duty hours with proper rest and mental well-being and when the death of those who save our lives has become normal.

Following these developments, MGM Medical College decided to implement the 1992 Residency Scheme, after institutions like Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Puducherry) and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research had already adopted similar measures.

Welcoming the move, UDF Chairperson Dr Lakshya Mittal called it an excellent example of public interest journalism. He also thanked MGM Indore Dean Dr Arvind Ghanghoria, stating that delivering justice to resident doctors through such a bold step after 34 years, since 1992, is highly commendable.

In a statement to Medical Dialogues, Dr Mittal said, "In any medical college in the country, residents need not leave their seats or suffer from mental depression due to fear of illegal long duty hours. Anyone facing issues should demand a new duty roster citing the 1992 rules. If needed, they can seek help from the UDF team."

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