Doctors urge health minister to implement panel recommendations for 'Pilot-like' duty hours
New Delhi: Welcoming the Parliamentary Health Committee's recommendations for 'Pilot-like Duty Hours' for resident doctors, a medical association has recently written to the Union Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda, seeking urgent implementation of the same.
"We welcome the recommendation of the committee and urge to introduce working hours regulations as per other safety-critical professions like civil aviation to prevent fatigue-induced accidents," the Chairperson of UDF, Dr. Lakshya Mittal, mentioned in the letter addressed to Minister Nadda.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by MP Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, has submitted its report on 18.03.2026. Taking note of the huge vacancies in the posts of faculty members and residents at the central government medical institutes, the Parliamentary Health Committee expressed concern about the excessive workload of doctors.
In this 172nd report, the panel highlighted the possibility of clinical errors and burnout resulting in compromised patient safety and recommended formulated and strictly enforcing a "Clinical Duty Hours Regulation" policy with mandatory rest periods and monitored rosters.
"The Committee is concerned about excessive continuous duty hours for Junior and Senior Residents and the risk of clinical errors and burnout, thereby compromising patient safety. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Department formulate and strictly enforce a 'Clinical Duty Hours Regulation' policy with mandatory rest periods, and monitored rosters, drawing a direct analogy from other safety-critical professions like civil aviation to prevent fatigue-induced accidents," the Committee mentioned in its report.
Referring to the Panel's recommendations, United Doctors Front (UDF) mentioned in the letter addressed to Minister Nadda that as per Civil Aviation duty rules in India, Pilots can't fly excessive hours. Airlines must ensure proper rest for them.
"These rules aim to reduce pilot fatigue and improve flight safety. Resident doctors are also responsible for safeguarding their patients, and prevention of fatigue-induced errors will be in the larger interest of society," mentioned the letter.
The association also referred to the Uniform Residency Scheme 1992 by MoHFW, which caps duty hours at 48 hours per week. Referring to this, the association pointed out how many medical colleges do not comply to these rules and mentioned, "The Uniform Residency Scheme 1992 by MoHFW caps 48 hours a week and not more than 12 hours at a stretch duty. But most medical colleges are not implementing the same as violation of the rules and maintaining forged duty data is also not categorized as any irregularity or crime and no accounatility is fixed."
UDF has requested the immediate implementation of the Uniform Residency Scheme of 1992. It has also requested the Minister to form a high-level committee to further examine appropriate steps to formulate other regulations to improve it as per civil aviation duty hour rules.
"Therefore, we request issuance of firm instructions to implement the Uniform Residency Scheme 1992 and to form a high-level committee to further examine appropriate steps to formulate other regulations to improve it as per civil aviation duty hours rules," the letter stated.
Further referring to the report of the National Task Force 2024 on mental health issues of medical students, the letter added, "We also refer to the National Task Force 2024 report on mental health issues of medical students, which is very alarming. The report highlights the urgent need for appropriate measures to address the mental health concerns of medical students."
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, UDF Chairperson Dr. Lakshya Mittal welcomed the recommendations given by the Parliamentary Committee. He said, "We welcome the recommendation of Parliamentary Standing Committee suggesting pilot like duty hour regulations for resident doctors. Both these professions are responsible for saving lives. It cannot be ignored in the Healthcare system. There is already a Uniform Residency Scheme 1992, which mandates 48-hours a week and 12 hours a shift. Unfortunately, it is not followed in most of the institutions. That's why we have written to the Honourable Union Health Minister for immediate enforcement, strict monitoring and accountability."
"A fatigued doctor is a risk to the patient safety. This is not only about the doctors' wellfare, but also about the lives. That's why we are urging the Government to act immediately without any further delay," he added.
