India’s Doctors Face Mental Fatigue, Safety Fears, and Burnout: Nationwide Survey Reveals

A nationwide survey conducted on World Doctors' Day has revealed the alarming mental, emotional, and physical challenges faced by India's doctors.

Amid growing concerns about healthcare pressures, this extensive survey sheds light on the hidden struggles behind the white coats, revealing how doctors across the country cope with fatigue, safety fears, and ethical dilemmas.

The survey, named “Knya Vitals 2025: Behind the Scrubs,” was conducted by the medical brand Knya and gathered insights from over 10,000 healthcare professionals.

Mental Fatigue and Burnout

The report shows that 83% of doctors overall experience emotional and mental fatigue. This rises to 87% among female doctors, compared to 77% of male doctors. Female doctors face higher levels of emotional fatigue.

Fatigue is also higher in tier 2 and 3 cities (85%) compared to 74% in tier 1 cities. Doctors in smaller cities like Nagpur and Ahmedabad attribute this to limited mental health resources, poor infrastructure, and higher workloads compared to metro areas.

Additionally, more than half of the doctors (55%) expressed fear of mental health collapse or burnout, while 50% worry about the failure of public healthcare, and 48% fear physical harm while on duty.

Worries About Workplace Safety, Especially Among Women

Shockingly, 7 out of 10 doctors shared concerns about safety at work. This concern is stronger among female doctors, with 70% feeling unsafe and 75% regretting their decision to join the medical profession.

Similar to the fatigue trend, this worrying issue is more common in smaller cities, where 72% of female doctors—about 10% higher than in metros—feel unsafe.

Overworked and Undervalued

Half of India’s medical professionals work more than 60 hours a week, and 15% even report working over 80 hours.

Despite this heavy workload, many doctors feel undervalued. Forty-three percent say they are underpaid, and one in three doctors get less than 60 minutes a day for rest and family time.

The report further reveals that one in two doctors face ethical challenges, with institutions sometimes asking them to act against medical guidelines.

Young Medical Professionals Are More Affected

Doctors aged 25 to 34 report the highest levels of fatigue, regret about their career choice, and the long hours they must endure. But this sense of regret seems to fade once doctors cross the age of 35.

The report also sheds light on everyday hurdles that doctors regularly deal with:

• 58% report long working hours

• 46% struggle with patient overload

• 36% face difficulties with administrative tasks

Interestingly, only 1% of doctors expressed concern about AI replacing their jobs.

These findings bring into focus the daily realities of doctors, especially in smaller towns and among younger professionals. Without meaningful steps to ease mental fatigue, improve workplace safety, and support ethical decision-making, the strain on India’s healthcare system will only grow. Prioritizing their well-being today is essential to building a more resilient and responsive healthcare system for tomorrow.

(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)