Nagpur: Maharashtra’s resident doctors are putting in the longest working hours in the country with over 50% of them routinely working more than 12 hours a day and a majority enduring prolonged duty hours without adequate rest, as per FAIMA-Central MARD Resident Wellbeing Survey (RMS) 2.0. Federation of All India Medical Association or FAIMA is a national doctors’ association that advocates welfare, safety, and rights of resident doctors.
The survey, conducted among 1,260 resident doctors across 24 states and Union Territories, included responses from 109 doctors in Maharashtra, 95% of whom were from govt medical colleges. While the state fares slightly better than the national average in areas such as counselling, grievance redressal and stipend satisfaction, the workload remains among the highest in the country. The findings come ahead of Doctors’ Day on July 1.
The report found 51% Maharashtra’s resident doctors work over 80 hours a week while 53% continuously for more than 36 hours. Alarmingly, 42% said they do not receive any mandatory post-duty rest, despite marathon shifts. More than two in five (43%) residents said they work over 12 hours every day, the highest proportion recorded among states surveyed.
The mental health findings are equally concerning. At least 78% resident doctors in Maharashtra reported experiencing burnout, 51% said they are frequently sleep deprived, and 17% admitted to having thoughts of self-harm linked to work-related stress. The survey also highlighted institutional gaps with 44% reporting no access to mental health counselling and 53% saying there is no grievance redressal mechanism in their institutions.
Comparatively, the national survey found 88% resident doctors experienced burnout, 57% sleep deprived, and 17% reported thoughts of self-harm. Across India, 47% worked more than 80 hours a week, 62% performed shifts exceeding 36 continuous hours, and 51% did not receive mandatory rest after duty.
Speaking to TOI, Dr Ashutosh Ade, general secretary, Central MARD Maharashtra and MARD, Government Medical College (GMC), Nagpur, said the survey reflects the enormous pressure under which resident doctors keep hospitals functioning round the clock.
“The most worrying finding is that many resident doctors continue to work prolonged shifts without mandatory rest. This is not merely about doctors’ welfare — it is directly linked to patient safety. A sleep-deprived doctor treating critically ill patients through the night increases risk of medical errors.”
He said the burden is particularly severe in Vidarbha, where Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMC), Nagpur, cater not only to the city but also to patients from across Vidarbha and neighbouring districts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. “A massive patient load is being handled by limited manpower because of long-pending vacancies,” he said.
Based on the survey, Central MARD has demanded immediate filling of vacant resident doctor and support staff posts across govt medical colleges. It has also sought confidential mental health counselling services in every medical college, stressing that addressing burnout and psychological distress among resident doctors is essential for ensuring safer and more effective patient care.
