New Delhi, April 20
The simmering discontent among resident doctors has now burst into the open, with the United Doctors Front throwing its full weight behind the Resident Doctors Association AIIMS and warning that “reckless policy decisions” could endanger both doctors and patients.
In a strong-worded statement, UDF Chairperson Dr. Lakshya Mittal said the proposal for a 24-hour OPD system without adequate manpower and systemic reform is “not just impractical, but dangerous.”
> “AIIMS residents are already working ‘until the work ends’ with no real shift system. The 48-hour weekly cap exists only on paper. Excessive and illegal duty hours are pushing doctors to the brink and directly compromising patient safety,” Dr Mittal said.
The UDF flagged that despite an official order issued on August 21, 2025, mandating a 48-hour work week and a maximum 12-hour duty shift, implementation across AIIMS centres remains largely absent.
Calling for accountability, Dr Mittal demanded a comprehensive audit of duty hours across all AIIMS institutions since the 2025 directive.
“AIIMS must first implement its own order. Maintain proper duty hour records, conduct a transparent audit, and fix responsibility where violations are found. Without this, any talk of expanding services is hollow,” he asserted.
The doctors’ body also warned that any irregularities found during the audit should invite legal action under relevant provisions, stressing that systemic negligence cannot go unchecked.
Backing the stand of RDA AIIMS against the proposed round-the-clock OPD model, UDF urged resident doctor associations across the country to take note before such a policy is rolled out nationwide.
The development signals a widening confrontation between frontline medical staff and policymakers, with resident doctors making it clear: reform the system first, don’t stretch an already broken workforce further.
#AIIMS #DoctorsProtest #HealthcareCrisis #PatientSafety #UDF
