Hyderabad hospital caps junior doctors' weekly duty at 48 hours

Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad has rolled out a new policy limiting the weekly duty hours for junior residents and interns to 48 hours maximum, according to an official circular issued by the institution.

The directive seeks to regulate the working hours of junior medical personnel, who traditionally face demanding schedules in Indian hospitals. By capping weekly duty at 48 hours, the hospital aims to ensure that junior doctors and interns have adequate rest and recovery time while maintaining clinical operations.

The policy applies uniformly to all junior residents and interns at the government hospital, one of Hyderabad's major tertiary care centres. Implementation of such duty hour restrictions reflects growing recognition of the need to balance operational requirements with the well-being of junior medical staff.

The move aligns with broader concerns raised by medical associations across India regarding excessive working hours for junior doctors, which impact both their health and the quality of patient care. The Hyderabad hospital's decision may set a precedent for other institutions in the region to review their duty scheduling practices.