Concerned about the resident doctors' long working hours and stressful work environment, the Maharashtra University of Health and Sciences' (MUHS) academic council has passed a resolution, making it mandatory for them to get an annual mental health check-up.
The resolution, passed in the last week of April, stated that the doctors will have to undergo a mental health screening during the start of their residency, and an annual test thereafter. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) had requested the state government for this provision after three resident doctors from the JJ hospital were found drinking and driving in October last year.
Following the MARD request, the university's academic council passed the resolution that will compel every medical college in the state to provide a certificate while offering admission and then during the course, every year, a routine health check-up including for mental health, will be conducted.
MARD, which has been demanding mental health check-ups for its doctors for some time now, claims that many resident doctors are under constant stress, suffer from depression, turn to substance abuse in the form of drinking and smoking, and even try to commit suicide.
"It is a welcome news. The resolution passed in the MUHS academic council will go a long way in helping screen the doctors who are more susceptible to physical and mental stress of extensive working hours. It will give us a heads up in reaching out to them before there is any serious health consequence," said MARD president Dr Sagar Mundada.
He added that it was a known fact that the period of residency training was very stressful in a doctor's life. "International studies have shown that the resident doctors face a significant amount of psychological problems. Around 17-25% of resident doctors suffer from depression due to stressful working environment. Regular mental health screening will be very beneficial," said Mundada.
