NMC Submits Affidavit in Supreme Court Over Resident Doctors' Mental Health

The National Medical Commission (NMC) submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court highlighting that excessively long and crushing working hours are causing severe psychological distress and mental health issues among resident doctors in medical institutions across the country.

Resident doctors in Indian government medical colleges frequently endure continuous shifts lasting between 24 to 36 hours without adequate rest. The NMC's submission comes amidst growing legal scrutiny and nationwide demands for regulated working hours, mental health support mechanisms, and humane working environments in tertiary medical centers.

The NMC informed the top court that continuous sleep deprivation severely affects cognitive functions, patient safety, and medical outcomes. The affidavit recommends mandatory duty hour ceilings, peer support groups, and the appointment of mental health counsellors across all recognized postgraduate medical colleges in India.

Addressing burnout among healthcare workers is essential to maintaining the structural integrity of India's public health system. This development serves as a crucial case study for UPSC Mains GS-II on health sector reforms, human resource management in governance, and GS-IV Ethics topics regarding workplace conditions and mental well-being.