In a major breakthrough, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has finally accepted the long-pending demand of resident doctors regarding fixed duty hours. In a meeting held on Tuesday with the United Doctors Front (UDF), the DGHS agreed to replace the vague term “reasonable duty hours” with a clear specification of 48 working hours per week for resident doctors.
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of the UDF, stated that the meeting was a significant step in the implementation of the Central Residency Scheme of 1992. “By accepting our demand to clearly mention a 48-hour weekly duty limit, the DGHS has taken a crucial step toward standardizing working hours across all government and private medical colleges in the country,” said Dr. Mittal.
Additionally, DGHS has positively responded to other key recommendations from the UDF, including the mandatory display of the 1992 residency guidelines in every medical college and the provision of at least five days of family or personal leave per year for resident doctors.
Dr. Mittal welcomed another important decision by DGHS—to revise outdated allowances such as book allowances as per current rates, in line with present-day requirements. The UDF had also recommended quarterly or biannual audits in all medical colleges to ensure compliance with the guidelines. This suggestion too was positively received during the discussions.
These decisions mark a significant step forward in improving the working conditions and rights of resident doctors nationwide.
