In many public and private hospitals across Pakistan, trainee doctors are routinely required to work continuous shifts of 30 hours or more (for example, from 8 AM to the following afternoon). These extreme duty hours are exhausting, unsafe, and outdated.

Fatigue from prolonged shifts significantly impairs decision-making, reaction time, and clinical judgment. This places both doctors and patients at serious risk. Despite this, such practices remain common due to staff shortages and heavy patient loads in hospitals.

Evidence from Pakistan:
Local research confirms that excessive working hours are a serious issue within Pakistan. A study published in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association found that surgical residents in Karachi work an average of over 90 hours per week, while medical residents work around 75 hours per week. More than half of these doctors reported significant stress, with longer working hours directly linked to higher stress levels.

Further commentary in Pakistani medical literature has highlighted that prolonged duty hours negatively affect both clinical performance and the quality of medical training. Despite recommended limits, there is no effective enforcement, and doctors frequently work beyond safe thresholds.

Why This Matters
This is not just a doctors’ issue, it is a patient safety issue!

A fatigued doctor is more likely to make mistakes. Every patient deserves care from a doctor who is alert, focused, and capable of making sound clinical decisions.

Global Standards
Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have introduced strict duty hour regulations, limiting continuous shifts and capping weekly working hours. These reforms were implemented to reduce medical errors and improve patient outcomes.

Pakistan currently lacks enforceable, standardized limits on doctors’ working hours in both public and private hospitals.

OUR DEMAND:

We call upon the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, CPSP as well as provincial health departments, to:

- Set a maximum continuous shift limit of 24 hours
- Ensure mandatory rest periods (at least 8–10 hours) after on-call duty
- Introduce safe weekly working hour limits
- Develop a structured duty system that prioritizes both doctor well-being and patient safety

Call to Action

This reform is essential for a safer healthcare system in Pakistan.

By signing this petition, you are supporting:
- Better working conditions for doctors  
- Safer care for patients  
- A more sustainable healthcare system

With High Number of Signatures We will contact our Local MPA/MNA to bring this into Assembly for Legislation !

It is time to move away from unsafe, outdated duty practices and adopt standards that protect both doctors and the people they serve.