Hyderabad: Jr doctors of government medical colleges say they are overworked
Senior doctors say the situation is part of a doctor's training and teaches the individual to cope with stress.
Hyderabad: Post-graduates and junior doctors of government medical colleges have approached the vice-president of Indian Medical Association, Dr Sai Ram complaining that they are being made to work 85-105 hours per week and 24 hours continuously despite Supreme Court orders not to do so.
The Supreme Court’s 1967 order says that junior doctors and post-graduates must work only 48 hours per week.
In a letter to the director of health and medical education, Dr Sai Ram has stated that the practice of ‘duty day’ where post-graduates work for 24 to 30 hours at a stretch, needs to be evaluated as it is taking a toll on them.
Dr P Srinivas, president of Osmania General Hospital Junior Doctors Association said that before the duty day, the doctor would have worked for eight hours. After the duty day, the eight hours of the next day have to be included.
“For that reason the timings are becoming very long. Every unit has three PGs working the duty hours-schedule. This number has to be increased as it is a long stretch for all of them," Dr Srinivas said.
The highest rush of patients is seen in orthopaedics, paediatrics, emergency care and general surgery. This is where post-graduates and junior doctors have a gruelling session. Most PGs are scared to speak up.
Senior doctors say the situation is part of a doctor’s training and teaches the individual to cope with stress.