Posted By :  Admin1

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the government, the National Medical Commission (NMC) and all healthcare institutions to adopt standardised and enforceable duty-hour regulations for doctors across India. According to IMA, excessively long working hours — common in many hospitals, especially for resident and junior doctors — pose a serious risk not only to the well-being of medical staff but also to patient safety and quality of care.

In its calls, IMA demands binding rules that limit continuous shifts, mandate sufficient rest between duties, enforce humane rotational scheduling, and ensure adequate staffing so institutions are not overly reliant on overworked professionals. The association draws parallels with professions like aviation, where regulated duty times and mandatory rest periods are deemed essential for safety.

IMA argues that fatigue — often glossed over as “sacrifice” or “hard work” — should not be accepted as a norm in healthcare. Rather, they insist that working-hour safeguards must become standard, non-negotiable practice: protecting doctors’ health, preserving dignity, and upholding patient welfare.