New Delhi: A deepening crisis in Delhi’s public healthcare system has come under sharp scrutiny, with a severe shortage of resident doctors pushing hospitals to the brink and raising serious concerns over patient safety.

A recent report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has sounded an alarm over acute staff shortages in major government hospitals, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The panel’s 172nd report reveals that both junior and senior resident doctors are routinely forced to work grueling shifts of 24 to 36 hours, often stretching to 48 hours without adequate rest.

The consequences, the committee warns, are severe. Prolonged duty hours are leading to sleep deprivation, fatigue, stress, and burnout among doctors-conditions that significantly impair judgment and decision-making. The report equates such exhaustion to a blood alcohol level of 0.1%, increasing the likelihood of medical errors and jeopardizing patient care.

At AIIMS alone, the administration has acknowledged a shortage of over 700 resident doctors, while admitting that the crisis is not isolated but widespread across institutions. The ripple effects are already visible-emergency services, ICUs, and OPDs are under strain, with mounting pressure on the existing workforce.

The shortage has also led to a dangerous trend where minor clinical errors are escalating into serious, potentially life-threatening situations. The committee cautions that unless immediate corrective measures are taken, the situation could spiral into a full-blown healthcare disaster.

Among its key recommendations, the panel has urged the swift implementation of “clinical duty hours” regulations, including mandatory rest periods, monitored duty rosters, and strict oversight mechanisms. Drawing parallels with the aviation sector, the committee emphasized how stringent rest protocols for pilots ensure safety-standards it believes must now be adopted in healthcare.

Despite acknowledging the shortage, AIIMS officials have stated that efforts are underway to address the gap.

Data presented in the report highlights the scale of the crisis:

Central Government Hospitals (Vacant Resident Posts):

• AIIMS: 700
• Safdarjung Hospital: 476
• Lady Hardinge Medical College: 268
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital: 199

Delhi Government Hospitals (Vacant Resident Posts):

• Lok Nayak Hospital: 242
• Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital: 205
• Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital: 178
• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital: 162
• Burari Hospital: 122
• Other Delhi government hospitals: 848

With over 3,000 vacant posts across Delhi’s public healthcare system, the warning is clear: without urgent intervention, the burden on doctors will only intensify-at a cost patients may ultimately pay.

(Cover Photo: AI generated – Crowded OPD in a Hospital.)