Archive · 12 Dec 2025
IMA Demands Enforceable Duty-Hour Limits for Doctors
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is very worried about doctors working too many hours without breaks.
They say this is dangerous for both patients and doctors.
Right now, many junior doctors work 24 to 48 hours straight, which the IMA thinks is too much.
They want the government and hospitals to make rules that limit working hours and ensure doctors get enough rest.
The IMA also wants better staffing and safety measures in hospitals.
They are asking the central government, the National Medical Commission, and hospitals to take action right away.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised concerns over the lack of regulated working hours for doctors, citing risks from extreme fatigue.
The IMA highlighted that resident and junior doctors often work 24-48 hour shifts, which it terms unsafe and unethical.
The recent incident at RG Kar Medical College underscored systemic neglect of basic protection mechanisms for doctors.
The IMA demanded nationally enforceable duty-hour regulations, mandatory rest periods, adequate staffing, and stronger institutional safeguards.
The IMA urged the Centre, the National Medical Commission, and hospitals to act immediately to ensure patient and doctor safety.
- Who
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- What
- Demanding enforceable duty-hour limits for doctors due to rising risks from doctor fatigue
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Hyderabad, India
- Why
- To ensure patient safety and doctor well-being, citing systemic neglect of basic protection mechanisms for doctors
- Organization
- Indian Medical Association (IMA)
- Issue
- Lack of regulated working hours for doctors
- Current Practice
- 24-48 hour shifts for resident and junior doctors
- Supreme Court Recommendations
- 16-hour duty limits, CCTV surveillance, separate rest areas for women doctors
- IMA Demands
- Nationally enforceable duty-hour regulations, mandatory rest periods, adequate staffing, stronger institutional safeguards
