Unregulated duty hours, inadequate service conditions for resident doctors: Parliamentary panel calls for strict execution of NTF action plans

New Delhi: Expressing concern over unregulated duty hours and inadequate service conditions, which can contribute to mental health challenges among resident doctors, a Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare has recommended the strict and time-bound implementation of action plans formulated by the National Task Force (NTF) pursuant to the Supreme Court's directives.

The Apex Court had constituted the National Task Force after taking suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder case of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

In its November 7, 2024 order, the Supreme Court recorded that the NTF had divided its recommendations on preventing violence and ensuring safe working conditions into short-, medium- and long-term measures after receiving suggestions from 53 associations and 1,700 individuals/hospitals.

NTF suggested deploying trained security personnel in hospitals, coordination with local police, high walls, limited biometric access, night-shift safety protocols and transportation for medical staff, augmentation of mobile network, CCTVs, restrooms and toilets, internal complaints committee to act on sexual harassment complaints, etc.

These recommendations were presented before the Parliament on August 7, 2026 by the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its 176nd report on Affordability and Accessibility of Healthcare facilities in Public and Private Sector.

Taking note of the excessive workload on resident doctors across the country, the Committee in its report opined that the quality of healthcare delivery is intrinsically linked to the physical safety, mental well-being, and continuous capacity building of medical professionals and frontline health workers.

Stakeholders also suggested incorporating respiratory curriculum in all UG/PG courses, strengthening respiratory medical departments, and addressing mental health concerns including suicides among medical students through fixed duty hours and well-being programmes. 

In the report, the Health Panel, headed by Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav expressed concern over the persistent issues such as unregulated duty hours, inadequate service conditions, and acute mental health challenges among resident doctors which it said demand urgent statutory intervention.

"The Committee further believes that the quality of healthcare delivery is intrinsically linked to the physical safety, mental well-being, and continuous capacity building of medical professionals and frontline health workers. Persistent issues such as unregulated duty hours, inadequate service conditions, and acute mental health challenges among resident doctors demand urgent statutory intervention. Therefore, the Committee recommends the strict, time-bound execution of the short-, mid-, and longterm action plans formulated by the National Task Force, pursuant to the Hon'ble Supreme Court's directives," the panel observed in the report. 

Suggesting measures for improvement, the Committee said that the Government must strictly enforce fixed duty hours and structured well-being programmes for all resident doctors and nursing staff. It also recommended suitable augmentation of the salaries and allowances of resident doctors.

Medical Dialogues reported last year that the doctors under the United Doctors' Front (UDF) had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court against the "inhumane working hours of resident doctors". The association has 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 directive notification, which mandates that resident doctors should not work more than 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week.

The PIL highlighted that despite clear directives from the Supreme Court over three decades ago, medical institutions continue to violate prescribed standards. The petition cites the National Task Force report on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students, which documented over 150 suicides of medical students within five years, primarily due to work-related stress and sleep deprivation.

NMC had submitted before the Apex Court that it had already taken necessary steps to regulate working hours and improve the mental well-being of medical students and resident doctors.

NMC pointed out that even though the 1992 Residency Scheme was issued to mitigate the effects of excessive duty hours, and advised that resident doctors should generally not exceed 12 hours of continuous active duty per day and 48 hours per week, those guidelines were not implemented due to a shortage of human resources and other logistical reasons.

Along with this, the commission informed the apex court that the state governments and medical institutions are responsible for the implementation of duty hours because NMC's primary role is to regulate medical education and academic standards under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.

Also read- Resident doctors' duty hours implementation lies with states: NMC tells Supreme Court