Medical Education Commission Directs Universities to Limit Resident Doctor Workload

Kathmandu. The Medical Education Commission has directed all concerned universities and institutions not to assign excessive work burden to resident doctors against the rules.

Issuing a letter today, Monday, the commission stated that it has received complaints that resident doctors are being forced to work day and night, causing serious negative impacts on their physical and mental health. The letter, signed by the commission's Vice-Chairman Prof. Dr. Srikrishna Giri, expressed serious concern about the health and work style of the doctors.

Addressing all universities and health science institutions in the country, the commission has cautioned them to assign resident doctors to service only within the scope of the approved curriculum of the respective subject from now on. It has also been directed to effectively implement the provisions set by the curriculum and inform the commission about it as soon as possible. 

Doctors undergoing internship, medical officers, and resident doctors in various medical colleges and teaching hospitals have taken to protest. Although the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security has directed that no health worker should be made to work more than 48 hours a week, the victimized doctors claim that medical colleges are continuously making them work up to 72 hours.