‘Stress levels high among city doctors’

Even as the country celebrates World Doctors’ Day today, it has emerged that doctors in the city are an anxious lot. A seven-question survey carried out by Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Mard) at the four medical colleges of Mumbai has indicated high depression levels among the doctors, which have been triggered by work pressure and inhospitable working or residential conditions.

At least 200 resident doctors each from Grant Medical College, GS Seth Medical College, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Topiwala National Medical College participated in the survey to map their psychological analysis.

Details revealed that only about 20 per cent of the doctors worked 12 hours a day, while 60 per cent confirmed working anywhere between 12-18 hours with the remaining 20 per cent revealing that they work more than 18 hours a day. Similarly, when asked about weekly working hours, keeping in mind the Supreme Court verdict of 48 hours maximum working period, only 5 per cent said they work less than 48 hours a week. About 14 per cent of the doctors said they had clocked even 100 hours a week.

The doctors also revealed severe stress levels when asked about work pressure and its effects. While 208 doctors reported being upset at small, unexpected events fairly often, 204 answered that they often feel not being in control of their lives. A massive 426 said they felt stressed out very often while another 210 often felt being crushed under the rising work pressure.

While answering questions directed to assess their clinical psychological status, 198 of the participants accepted suffering from sleep-related problems. At least 96 participants were found to be suffering from clinical depression and 31 others affirmed they were struck with suicidal thoughts repeatedly over the period of last two months. “The results are not at all a pretty picture. The living conditions of the doctors are not hospitable at all. We can only hope the scenario will change by next year,” said Dr Sagar Mundada, president Central Mard.