What are the official working hour regulations for resident doctors at PGIMER?

The Central Residency Scheme of 1992 caps resident doctors' duty hours at 12 per day and 48 per week, with at least one day off every seven days.

Do resident doctors at PGIMER receive extra pay for overtime?

No, residents report that extra working hours are not officially recorded, and thus, they do not receive extra stipends for overtime.

How many hours do resident doctors at PGIMER typically work per week?

Resident doctors at PGIMER routinely work 80-90 hours per week, significantly exceeding the regulated limit.

Home / Health / PGIMER Doctors: Endless Shifts, No Balance?

PGIMER Doctors: Endless Shifts, No Balance?

9 Jan

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Summary

Doctors at PGIMER routinely work 80-90 hours weekly.
Resident doctors are often denied weekly offs.
Stipends are not provided for overtime hours worked.

PGIMER Doctors: Endless Shifts, No Balance?

Resident doctors at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh are reportedly enduring extremely long working hours, often between 80-90 hours per week. This situation persists despite the Central Residency Scheme of 1992, which caps duty hours at 12 per day and 48 per week, while mandating at least one week off every seven days. A circular issued last September by the PGIMER director aimed to optimize these hours, but it appears to have had little effect.

These demanding schedules frequently lead to residents working up to 30 days consecutively without any designated days off. The lack of adequate rest and personal time affects their efficiency and well-being. Residents in departments like internal medicine and those assigned to emergency and trauma centers report particularly strenuous conditions, often working longer than their scheduled hours due to patient influx or critical cases, without receiving additional stipends for this overtime.