The Islamabad High Court has raised serious concerns over doctors working extremely long weekly shifts. The court described a 102-hour workweek as inhumane during a hearing.
Justice Raja Inaam Amin Minhas made the observation while hearing a case concerning doctors’ working hours. He also called for the issue to receive proper regulatory consideration.
The matter now moves to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, which has been directed to examine doctors’ working hours. The regulator must then submit its recommendations to the government.
IHC Questions 102-Hour Doctor Workweek
During the hearing, the Islamabad High Court focused on the extended duty hours faced by doctors. Justice Minhas specifically observed that requiring doctors to work up to 102 hours weekly was inhumane.
The court’s remarks have highlighted concerns surrounding prolonged working hours in the medical profession. In particular, the issue affects doctors working extended shifts during their professional and postgraduate training.
Meanwhile, the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan submitted its response during the proceedings. The organisation highlighted concerns about how prolonged duty hours can affect doctors’ alertness and performance.
PMDC Asked to Review Doctors’ Working Hours
Following the hearing, the court referred the matter to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The PMDC has been directed to examine the concerns surrounding doctors’ working hours.
Furthermore, the council must formulate recommendations after reviewing the issue. Those recommendations will then be placed before the government for consideration and appropriate action.
The court did not itself announce a new working-hours limit for doctors. Instead, the proceedings placed responsibility on the medical regulator to review the existing situation.
Why Extended Doctor Shifts Are Under Focus
The issue has drawn attention to the demanding schedules faced by doctors in Pakistan. Prolonged duty hours can place additional pressure on medical professionals while requiring sustained attention during clinical work.
The CPSP response also brought attention to the relationship between extended duties, alertness and professional performance. Therefore, the discussion has expanded beyond working hours to the broader conditions faced by doctors.
However, any changes to doctors’ working arrangements will depend on the PMDC’s review and subsequent government consideration. The court’s latest direction has therefore opened the way for a formal examination of the issue.
For doctors working long shifts, the proceedings could become an important step toward reviewing existing duty-hour arrangements. For now, however, the matter remains with the PMDC for assessment and recommendations.
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