Mumbai: Citing three recent cases in which resident doctors either attempted suicide or sought to leave postgraduate training, the state Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised concerns over long duty hours, alleged harassment and weak grievance-redressal systems for PG residents and interns.Quoting data from the Maharashtra department of medical education, the IMA said 85 PG students discontinued their courses between 2019 and 2024, while 11 died by suicide in the same period.In a letter to the Union health ministry, IMA Maharashtra president Dr Santosh Kulkarni said residents were integral to a hospital’s functioning, but their working conditions often fell short of prescribed norms.Dr Kulkarni said, “The Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992, says continuous active duty should ordinarily not exceed 12 hours and junior residents should ordinarily work 48 hours a week, with a weekly holiday by rotation.”IMA’s statement mentioned three cases, beginning with a first-year resident at Govt Medical College, Akola, who reportedly sought to relinquish her PG seat amid allegations of mental harassment and prolonged duty. The second case was of a first-year DNB surgery trainee at a private hospital in south Mumbai who attempted suicide twice following her suspension after she complained about ragging, harassment and duty hours.It also mentioned the death of medical officer Dr Rajendra Rupnavar, who attempted suicide at Sion railway station on Aug 27 and died at Sion Hospital on Aug 31.Dr Kulkarni said the IMA wants digital monitoring of duty rosters, 24×7 counselling, protection against victimisation and case-by-case review of seat-leaving penalties where residents cite harassment, mental-health concerns or unsafe working conditions.
