New Delhi, June 25 — Even as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a petition filed by the United Doctors Front (UDF), explosive RTI revelations have exposed serious violations of duty hour norms at some of India’s top medical institutes—including AFMC Pune, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and AIIMS Bibinagar.
According to data obtained through RTI filings, postgraduate resident doctors in these institutions are being forced to work in excess of legal limits, clearly breaching the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023—which cap duty hours and mandate humane working conditions.
“This is institutional exploitation. We have proof. The violations are rampant and shameless,” said Dr. Lakshya Mittal, Chairperson of UDF. “Pending Supreme Court directions, this is a red alert to every authority responsible for medical education in India.”
Regulations Ignored, Doctors Pushed to Breaking Point
The PGMER 2023, issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), limits resident duty hours to ensure safety and mental well-being.
But at institutions like AFMC and AIIMS, junior doctors continue to clock 100+ hour weeks with no structured rest, putting both patients and residents at risk.
“These doctors are not trainees anymore—they're being treated like disposable labor,” said Dr. Mittal.
UDF’s Supreme Push for Justice
Frustrated with the inaction of both the DGHS and NMC, and long standing duty hours roster, the UDF has moved the Supreme Court, seeking strict implementation of PGMER norms and penal action against defaulting institutes and fix working hours in general for residents.
The petition is expected to come up for hearing soon.
Not the First Fight
UDF has been at the forefront of several major campaigns, including:
Mental health support for doctors
NEET-PG counselling reforms
COVID-era protections and insurance for medical professionals
But insiders say this case could be a game-changer—potentially transforming working conditions for resident doctors across India.
“Enough is enough,” said Dr. Mittal. “This isn’t just about duty hours. It’s about restoring dignity to India’s medical profession.”
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