RG kar tragedy 'symptom of collapsing system': NHRC seeks Health Ministry report on duty hour violations, doctors demand PMO intervention

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Union Health Ministry to submit a compliance report on the action taken against the violation of duty hour regulations and concerned officials of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023.

Last year on June 11, the Commission had called for a detailed report/compliance report from the Secretary of the Union Health Ministry in this regard. However, despite a reminder on 27.10.2025, the authorities failed to submit the report. 

Now, acting on a complaint filed by Dr. Lakshya Mittal, Chairperson, United Doctors’ Front (UDF), the NHRC has again directed the Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to submit a detailed compliance report within four weeks, failing which the Commission has warned of invoking its powers under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, including summoning the concerned authority for personal appearance.

Referring to the Commission's direction, UDF mentioned in a release, "This strict directive comes after repeated non-compliance despite earlier orders, clearly reflecting the Commission’s serious concern over continued inaction in the RG Kar case."

Medical Dialogues had reported about the brutal rape and murder case of a PG medico studying in the RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The lady doctor was attacked while she was resting in the hospital after a 36-hour shift. 

A young postgraduate doctor, after nearly 36 hours of continuous duty, lost her life in a deeply disturbing incident within hospital premises. For UDF, this is not an isolated tragedy—it is a symptom of a collapsing system where overworked, unprotected doctors are pushed beyond human limits, the association said.

Resident Doctors across the country often complain about long, inhuman working hours and inadequate rest, which ultimately affects their mental health. Medical associations, including the UDF have been raising the issue for a long time, demanding the implementation of the Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992, which mandates a maximum of 48 hours per week duty for the resident doctors (not exceeding 12 hours of continuous duty). In fact, the association has filed a plea in this regard before the Supreme Court.

On 20.03.2025, Dr. Lakshya Mittal, Chairperson of UDF filed a complaint before NHRC highlighting the excessive and inhumane working hours for doctors across medical institutions in India.

The Complaint stated that despite a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directive limiting duty hours to 48 hours per week or 12 hours per shift, these regulations are widely disregarded, leading to severe physical and mental health issues, compromised patient care and tragic incidents like the recent case at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata.

Filing the complaint, Dr. Mittal demanded strict enforcement of the directives, legal action against violators, public transparency of duty-hour norms, and a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance.

The Commission on 05.05.2025, directed the Union Health Secretary to examine the matter and submit a report. Following this, the Commission received two communications dated 22.5.2025 and 30.5.2025 from the Director, National Medical Commission, Post Graduate Medical Education Board, New Delhi (PGMEB) and from Under Secretary, Medical Education Policy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, respectively.

The content of both the letters showed that as per Regulation 5.2 (II) of the PGMER 2023 'All Post graduate students will work as full time resident doctors. They will work for reasonable working hours and will be provided reasonable time for rest in a day'. As per Regulation 9.1 of the PGMER 2023, 'For noncompliance or omission, the PGMEB will penalise the medical college / institution'.

It was further mentioned in the letters that PGMEB, NMC, is empowered to take action against the concerned medical college / institution, as specified under Regulation 9.2 of the PGMER 2023.

"The Commission considered the report. It transpires that the Government has informed the Commission that the matter has been examined in consultation with National Medical Commission (NMC) and the violation of Regulation 5.2 (II) of the PGMER 2023 and as per Regulation 9.1 of the PGMER 2023, the concerned medical college / institution shall attract the action to be taken under Regulation 9.2 of PGMER 2023," noted the Commission.

Accordingly, NHRC on 11.06.2025 called for a detailed report/compliance report from the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in respect of the violation of the Regulations and action taken against the concerned officials of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata under the aforesaid Regulations of PGMER 2023.

However, noting that no report has been filed from the Ministry's side, the Commission has once again asked the Ministry to submit a compliance report.

UDF emphasized that this decisive action has come immediately after the West Bengal election results, marking a turning point in accountability. For the first time, with the same political leadership at the Centre and now in West Bengal, there exists a clear opportunity to implement long-pending healthcare reforms without administrative or political barriers.

“There are no excuses left now. The system must deliver,” said Dr. Lakshya Mittal.

Recalling the tragic incident of August 2024, where a young postgraduate doctor lost her life after being subjected to extreme working conditions, the doctors' body reiterated that this is not just a case—but a symbol of systemic failure. "Dr Abhaya is not just a victim—she is Bengal’s daughter. Justice to her must now translate into structural reform across India," Dr. Mittal stated.

The association reiterated that resident doctors across India are routinely subjected to 80–100 hour work weeks, in violation of prescribed norms.

“This is not training—it is institutionalized exploitation. The NHRC has rightly recognized this as a human rights issue. Now enforcement must follow,” Dr. Mittal added.

It has demanded immediate nationwide enforcement of the Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992, NMC-led surprise audits of duty hours across all institutes, strict action against institutes and officials violating norms, and transparent and accountable monitoring systems.

UDF Urges PMO Intervention: 

Furthermore, referring to the horrific RG Kar case, UDF has escalated its demand for urgent intervention from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), warning that the continued exploitation of resident doctors and systemic failures in West Bengal’s healthcare system cannot be ignored—especially as the state approaches a crucial electoral phase.

Writing to PM Modi, Dr. Mittal said, "In August 2024, at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, a young postgraduate medical doctor lost her life in a deeply disturbing and tragic incident within hospital premises. As reported, she had been on continuous duty for nearly 36 hours and had gone to rest when this horrific crime occurred. The inability of a doctor, exhausted to the point of physical collapse, to even ensure her own safety raises serious questions about the systemic conditions under which resident doctors are forced to function."

"This is not an isolated failure. It is the direct consequence of a system that normalizes inhuman duty hours, ignores established regulations, and lacks accountability. Her mother, Smt. Ratna Debnath, now an elected MLA in West Bengal, represents both the human cost of this systemic failure and the urgent need for leadership that understands these realities not as statistics, but as lived trauma. Her position uniquely qualifies her to bring accountability and reform into the system," the letter further added.

Referring to this, the association has demanded the induction of Smt. Ratna Debnath into a key healthcare leadership role in West Bengal. "Her leadership must be empowered to ensure strict accountability, including legal action against institutional heads who compel medical students and residents to undertake inhumanly prolonged duties," mentioned the letter.

Further, the association has demanded an immediate nationwide enforcement of the Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992. "The scheme clearly mandates regulated duty hours (approximately 48 hours per week), yet across India, resident doctors are compelled to work 80–100 hours weekly. We request your direct intervention with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to ensure strict compliance across all medical institutions, without exception," the letter added.

The doctors' body has also called for accountability through independent monitoring and has requested direction upon NMC to conduct surprise audits of duty rosters nationwide. "Institutions maintaining fabricated or manipulated rosters to conceal violations must face strict punitive action," the letter added.

The association claimed that what is currently being termed as "training" has, in reality, become institutionalized exploitation. "Overworked doctors are not only at risk themselves but also compromise patient safety and quality of care. A healthcare system built on fatigue and fear cannot deliver excellence. The tragedy at RG Kar must not fade into yet another statistic. It must become a defining moment for reform," the letter by the UDF chairperson said.

“This is not just a healthcare issue anymore—it is a governance issue,” Dr. Lakshya Mittal told Medical Dialogues.

“When resident doctors are forced to work 80–100 hours a week despite clear regulations, and when their safety cannot be guaranteed even inside hospital premises, the system stands exposed. The nation deserves answers—and accountability,” he added.

Pointing to the association's demand for giving Mrs. Debnath a leadership position, Dr. Mittal added, "Her lived experience represents the pain of thousands of resident doctors. West Bengal needs leadership that understands this crisis from the ground level—not just administratively, but emotionally and morally."

"The RG Kar case has now evolved from a tragic incident into a national accountability movement. This is a defining moment. Either we reform the system now—or we accept continued injustice. India must choose accountability,” Dr. Mittal concluded.

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