New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed its deep concern over the inhuman working hours for resident doctors, who sometimes work 36 hours at a stretch, and said that 48 or 36 hours of duty is not good.
Apex court expressed its concerns on inhuman working hours of doctors while hearing suo motu case
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said this while hearing a suo motu case related to rape, murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
“We are deeply concerned about the inhuman working hours of resident doctors across the country. Some doctors work 36-hour shifts. The 36 or 48 hour shifts are just inhuman,” the bench said while highlighting the inhuman work schedules of the doctors.
Have highlighted this aspect and National Task Force will look into this aspect: Apex court
The top court said that it has highlighted this aspect in its order and the National Task Force, constituted by the top court on Tuesday, will look into this aspect as well.
The top court on Tuesday constituted a 10 member National Task Force to formulate a national protocol for ensuring safety and facilities to doctors and healthcare staff in hospitals, securing hospitals from unruly persons, adequate rest rooms and duty rooms for doctors and healthcare staff.
The apex court noted during the hearing that a number of counsels took part on behalf of doctors and other stakeholders and they have placed some additional suggestions such as institutionalising of distress call system, registration of institutional FIR and the constitution of compensation distress fund and directed the National Task Force to consider the views of diverse stakeholders before framing the recommendations.
Apex court directed Centre to ensure some basic minimum is done for safety of doctors pending report of National Task Force
The bench also directed the Secretary, Union Ministry of Family Welfare to open a specific portal on the website of the ministry on which the different stakeholders can submit their suggestions or consideration.
The top court, which urged the protesting doctors to resume work and directed that no no coercive action be taken against them, further directed the secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to engage with chief secretary and Director General of Police so as to ensure some basic minimum is done for the safety of doctors pending the report of the National Task Force.
