Concerns Over Working Conditions for Resident Doctors at PGIMER Chandigarh
Allegations of Extended Work Hours
Resident doctors at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh have raised concerns regarding their working conditions, despite a prior directive aimed at optimizing their duty hours. They claim to still be working for up to 30 consecutive days without a weekly day off, particularly during shifts in the emergency ward, where duty hours often exceed 12 hours based on case severity.
Director’s Circular and Lack of Implementation
In September 2025, PGI Director Dr. Vivek Lal issued a circular instructing departmental heads to optimize the duty hours for resident doctors and ensure they receive at least one weekly off. This initiative aimed to alleviate undue mental and physical stress among the residents. However, according to the doctors, four months after these instructions were given, there has been no progress in their implementation.
Impact on Efficiency and Personal Life
A senior resident from the pediatric surgery department commented on the situation, stating, “We often work 30 days at a stretch and don’t get weekly offs. To get even a single day off, we have to apply for leave in advance. These working conditions do impact our efficiency and personal life, but we soldier on, thinking that this is our training stage.” Another resident from the hematology department noted that the heavy workload prevents them from addressing these issues.
Challenges Faced by Junior Residents
A junior resident from the internal medicine department, who works in the emergency department, highlighted the difficulties faced by residents assigned to other wards. They described gastroenterology as particularly hectic, stating that obtaining even one day off per month is challenging. “It is tough… balancing duty, academics, and personal life. What ends up happening is that we cut short our sleep duration and turn to ready-made food to save time,” added the resident.
Overtime and Lack of Compensation
Reports indicate that residents working in emergency or trauma centers face an even heavier workload. Although duty hours are officially capped at 12 hours, the doctors often work longer due to patient influx or critical cases. A junior resident at the trauma center mentioned, “Sometimes, we have to work overtime if there is more patient influx or if there is a critical case in the trauma, emergency, operation theatre, etc. But the extra working hours are not recorded officially, so we don’t get extra stipend for the extra hours.”
Inconsistent Duty Rosters
An examination of duty rosters from major departments revealed that there are no designated weekly offs for junior residents, including the December 2025 roster for internal medicine’s acute care emergency division and the January 2026 rosters for pediatrics and general surgery.
Official Response and Policies
Dr. Cherring Tandup, an additional professor in the general surgery department, acknowledged the provision for weekly offs in the emergency department but noted that in other wards, residents are offered flexible offs rather than fixed ones. According to the Central Residency Scheme of 1992, the duty hours for resident doctors should not exceed 12 hours per day, and they should be granted at least one weekly off.