Doctors’ body seeks cap on duty hours, flags 36-hour shifts for Telangana resident PG doctors

The Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), Telangana, has written to the Director of Medical Education (DME) seeking the implementation of regulated duty hours for resident post-graduate doctors, senior residents, and interns across government and private medical colleges in the State.

In a letter dated May 1, the association highlighted concerns over prolonged and excessive working hours, stating that many resident doctors are routinely subjected to duty shifts extending up to 24 to 36 hours without adequate weekly offs. “This trend is prevalent across several institutions, leading to severe fatigue, mental stress, and burnout among medical trainees,” it said.