In a much-needed relief for overworked medical professionals, Haryana’s government medical colleges have announced a 10-day yearly leave for resident doctors who work seven days a week without regular breaks. This decision brings hope and recognition to thousands of doctors working under immense pressure and long duty hours across institutions like Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS Rohtak and Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha.

This move comes after continuous efforts by the United Doctors Front (UDF), a doctors’ advocacy group, which highlighted the mental stress, burnout, and lack of personal time among junior and postgraduate (PG) resident doctors in Haryana.

🏥 What the New Leave Policy Offers

Issued officially on June 25, 2025, and followed by a similar order on July 8, 2025, the leave policy includes:

• 10-day yearly leave for MD/MS PG students working under a full 7-day duty roster
• Leave will be granted in one slot, with consideration of departmental workload
• Applies to Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, and Clinical departments
• Leave is compensatory for Sundays and holidays worked without weekly offs
• Departments like General Surgery at Agroha have already begun scheduling leave for PG batches

This progressive policy reflects an acknowledgement of the human needs of doctors who often sacrifice rest, family time, and personal well-being in service of their patients.

🙌 How UDF Made It Happen

The credit for this policy’s implementation goes to UDF Haryana. The organization met with senior leaders, including:

• BJP State President
• Former Health Minister
• Hisar MLA

These efforts pushed the matter forward and resulted in positive action from the medical universities.

UDF also emphasized that this is just the beginning. Their broader demand includes:

• Weekly offs (52 per year)
• 20 casual leaves annually
• Fixed 8-hour duty shifts for all doctors
• National-level implementation of the Rohtak model of leave

😓 The Ground Reality: Mental Fatigue & Burnout

Doctors undergoing Junior Residency as part of their PG medical education often report:

• 36-hour-long shifts
• No weekly holidays
• Low pay and poor work conditions
• Lack of proper leave structure

Despite guidelines under the Central Residency Scheme (1992), which clearly state that duty hours should not exceed 12 hours/day and that doctors must get a weekly off, these rules have often remained only on paper.

Even the NMC’s Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER 2023) acknowledged that PG students should have “reasonable working hours and time for rest.” Still, they did not set a firm upper limit, leaving many resident doctors vulnerable to exploitation.

🔍 Why This Matters for India’s Healthcare Future

This decision is more than just about granting 10 days of leave — it’s about recognizing the humanity of doctors. If doctors are overworked and mentally fatigued, it directly impacts:

• Patient safety
• Clinical decision-making
• Training quality
• Doctor-patient relationships

A structured leave policy is not a luxury — it’s a basic requirement for ethical and sustainable medical education.

🩺 What Doctors and Institutes Can Do Next

Doctors and medical institutes across India can:

• Advocate for similar leave policies using Haryana’s model
• Conduct internal reviews on resident work hours
• Collaborate with bodies like the UDF to improve conditions
• Demand strict enforcement of the Central Residency Scheme
• Use digital platforms to log duty hours and request leave transparently

To stay informed and contribute meaningfully to such reforms, healthcare professionals can join The Doctorpreneur Academy, a dedicated platform for empowering doctors in leadership, advocacy, and digital healthcare innovation.

✅ Call to Action

✅ Resident Doctors: Know your rights and speak up for humane working conditions.
✅ Medical Administrators: Implement structured duty hours and fair leave policies.
✅ Healthcare Leaders: Advocate for nationwide reform based on the Rohtak model.
✅ Policy Makers: Ensure that existing residency regulations are enforced on ground.

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