Islamabad High Court Calls 102-Hour Weekly Doctor Shifts Inhumane

The Islamabad High Court has deemed requiring doctors to work up to 102 hours a week as inhumane, prompting a review of extended duty hours. Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas voiced his concerns during a hearing concerning doctors' working hours. The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) pointed out the negative effects of prolonged duty hours on doctors' alertness and performance in their submission to the court.

Subsequently, the court referred the matter to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), instructing the regulator to assess doctors' working hours and submit recommendations to the government. At the hearing, Justice Minhas emphasized that working up to 102 hours per week for doctors was inhumane and urged relevant regulatory and government institutions to investigate the issue.

The court's comments have reignited discussions about the working conditions and extended shifts faced by doctors, especially those in postgraduate medical training.