New Delhi: An alarming 86% of India’s young doctors and medical students believe that excessive duty hours are directly harming their mental health and compromising patient safety, according to a nationwide survey conducted by United Doctors Front (UDF) and Medical Dialogues.The online survey, conducted between March 12 and 24, 2025, gathered responses from 1,031 MBBS interns and PG medical students across all Indian states and union territories.Over 62% of the respondents reported working more than 72 hours per week, while more than half said they do not receive a weekly off, highlighting a widespread culture of overwork in India’s medical institutions.Dr Lakshya Mittal, National President of UDF, stressed the structural nature of the issue: “Doctors are breaking under the pressure of endless shifts, toxic work culture, and penalties up to Rs. 50 lakh for leaving the course.This survey reflects voices from the ground, and those voices are demanding immediate reforms from the NMC and health institutions .”“ We are heading toward a silent epidemic of burnout and mental breakdowns among doctors in training. These findings are not just statistics—they are a wake-up call,” said Dr Prem Aggarwal, senior cardiologist and Chairman, Medical Dialogues.“If we don’t act now to reduce duty hours and support mental health, the system risks losing its best minds to despair.”Key Survey Findings:Workload & Hoursa. 62.17% reported working more than 72 hours per weekb. Only 18.91% received a regular weekly offc. Over 58% were denied paid and academic leave entitlementsMental Health Impacta. 84.77% reported suffering from anxiety, depression, or burnoutb. 81.09% felt chronically overburdenedc. 86.52% said exhaustion was affecting both their efficiency and patient safetyFinancial Pressurea. 44.91% faced seat-leaving penalties up to ₹25 lakhb. 13.09% faced penalties above ₹50 lakhWho Is Most Affected?a. Super-speciality students reported the highest workload (76.74% >72 hrs/week)b. South Zone showed the most burnout (90.57% mental health impact)c. Private institutions had steeper penalties (>₹50 lakh in 26.87% cases)”These findings underscore the urgent need for structured reforms. We strongly urge the government to implement the Central Residency Scheme 1992 without delay,” said Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of UDF.“It is imperative to standardize duty hours, ensure adequate rest, and establish grievance redressal mechanisms across all medical institutions. Without these changes, we risk continued exploitation of young doctors and irreversible damage to the healthcare ecosystem,” he added.Also Read:Doctors demand fixed duty hours, urge PM Modi to end 36-hour shifts