A nationwide survey conducted by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has found that many resident doctors in India experience burnout, sleep deprivation, prolonged duty hours, and inadequate rest after shifts. The findings are part of the Resident Wellbeing Survey (RMS) 2.0, which included responses from 1,260 resident doctors across 28 states and Union Territories.
The survey assessed the working conditions and well-being of resident doctors, who provide patient care while undergoing postgraduate medical training in teaching hospitals.
According to the survey, 87.5% of resident doctors reported experiencing burnout either frequently or occasionally. Burnout is an occupational syndrome associated with chronic workplace stress that has not been effectively managed.
The survey also found that 87.8% of respondents reported sleep deprivation due to their work schedules. Sleep deprivation can reduce alertness, impair concentration and decision-making, and affect both physical and mental health.
As reported in Medical Dialogues, the president of FAIMA, Dr. Srinath said,
FAIMA RMS 2.0 Survey Highlights Urgent Need for Reforms in Resident Doctor Welfare. The FAIMA RMS 2.0 Survey, involving 1,260 resident doctors across India, reveals alarming levels of burnout, sleep deprivation, and excessive working hours among postgraduate medical trainees. FAIMA urges immediate systemic reforms such as regulated duty hours, mandatory rest, mental health support, and improved stipends to ensure resident well-being, patient safety, and the future strength of India's healthcare system.Dr. Srinath, FAIMA President
The survey highlighted the long working hours reported by resident doctors. About 61.8% of respondents said they had worked continuously for more than 36 hours during their residency.
In addition, 63.7% reported that they rarely or never received mandatory rest after completing a 24-hour duty shift. Post-duty rest is intended to allow healthcare workers to recover after prolonged clinical responsibilities.
FAIMA's survey also identified staffing shortages as a major challenge. Nearly 65.7% of respondents said their departments did not have adequate staff, while 66.1% described their workload as high or extremely high.
According to the survey, inadequate staffing often results in longer duty hours, fewer breaks, and reduced time for academic activities during residency training.
The survey examined how workplace stress affects resident doctors beyond their daily duties.
More than half of the respondents (54.4%) reported that they had considered leaving their residency because of work-related stress. Additionally, 16.9% said they had experienced thoughts of self-harm associated with workplace stress.
The survey reported these findings as part of its assessment of resident well-being.
Many respondents stated that mental health support within their institutions was either unavailable or insufficient. Others reported that they were unaware of counselling facilities or formal grievance redressal mechanisms available to resident doctors.
The survey documented these responses while evaluating institutional support systems for postgraduate trainees.
FAIMA stated that the findings highlight several issues affecting resident doctors, including prolonged duty hours, inadequate staffing, limited post-duty rest, and restricted access to mental health support services.
The association said the survey findings could help inform discussions on improving working conditions and the training environment for resident doctors across India.
(Rh/SS/MSM)