Rajasthan Plans Mental Health Support for 7,000 Residents and 10,000 Other Doctors

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Rajasthan is finalising a mental health support plan for approximately 7,000 resident and senior resident doctors and 10,000 other doctors, officials said. The decision follows three reported suicides by doctors in the preceding three to four months and concerns over working hours that can stretch from 12 to 36 hours. Chief Secretary V. Srinivas and senior health department officials are working on the action plan.

The plan envisages a state-level mental health welfare cell and well-being centres in each government medical college, staffed by trained psychologists and counsellors who will provide confidential counselling, stress management and emotional support. Mental health task forces will monitor conditions in medical college hospitals and other hospitals. To reduce individual workloads, the state has decided to increase senior resident posts to more than 5,500. Colleges have also been directed to follow National Medical Commission guidelines on weekly leave, regulated duty hours and active committees against workplace harassment and toxic behaviour. A separate decision for approximately 40,000 nursing and paramedical staff, who also face work pressure, remains pending; a dedicated cell may be considered.

What is the National Medical Commission and when was it formed?

The National Medical Commission (NMC) is India's apex regulatory body for medical education and practice, established by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. It replaced the Medical Council of India, which had been constituted under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. The NMC became operational in September 2020 and is responsible for framing policies on medical education, granting recognition to medical qualifications, and assessing healthcare infrastructure. Its functions include issuing guidelines on anti-ragging, mental health task forces, and duty-hour regulations for resident doctors.

What does the plan include?

The plan includes a state-level mental health welfare cell to oversee programmes in government medical colleges, and well-being centres in each college with trained psychologists and counsellors offering confidential support. Mental health task forces will monitor conditions in hospitals. The state has also decided to increase senior resident posts to more than 5,500 to reduce prolonged individual duties.

What guidelines are colleges expected to follow?

Colleges have been directed to follow National Medical Commission anti-ragging and mental health task force recommendations, including weekly leave, regulated duty hours and active committees for workplace harassment and toxic behaviour.

What about nursing and paramedical staff?

A separate decision for approximately 40,000 nursing and paramedical staff, who also face work pressure, has not yet been taken. Officials said a dedicated cell may be considered.