Significant changes have been suggested by a work group that the National Medical Commission (NMC) formed to enhance the mental health of Indian medical professionals and trainees. This task team was established in reaction to the startlingly high number of medical student suicides—122 incidents during the previous five years, according to data. The extensive study, which revealed a significant prevalence of mental health concerns among 25,590 undergraduate students, 5,337 postgraduate students, and 7,035 faculty members, served as the basis for the task force’s recommendations.
Important survey results draw attention to serious mental health issues: 16.2% of undergraduate students reported having suicide thoughts, while 27.8% reported having a mental health diagnosis. Postgraduate students reported a lifetime rate of 31.23% suicidal thoughts, a year-over-year rate of 10.5%, and a year-over-year rate of 4.4% attempted suicide.
The task force has proposed 44 proposals to improve mental health assistance for medical professionals and students in order to address these concerns. Important suggestions consist of:
- Uniform Pay Structure: The task panel suggests that the pay structure of AIIMS-Delhi be implemented by all medical institutes. This approach aims to alleviate wage differences that lead to financial stress among medical personnel by standardizing salaries across institutions, which now range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
- Regulated Working Hours: The task committee recommends capping resident doctors’ weekly working hours at 74 in order to prevent burnout and guarantee enough rest. This should consist of five 10-hour shifts, one 24-hour shift, and one day off. The intention is to guarantee that medical students receive the 7–8 hours of sleep each day that they require for both their physical and mental well-being.
- Enhanced Support Systems: The government’s tele-MANAS counseling service should provide round-the-clock assistance, according to the report. In order to foster a more encouraging living and learning environment, it also highlights the necessity of improved facilities in universities and dorms.
- Family Involvement: In order to help families better appreciate the challenges experienced by medical students and to create a more encouraging home environment, the task force suggests incorporating family members in induction programs.
- Vacations: To assist students in stress management and work-life balance, medical colleges ought to offer a 10-day vacation to all undergraduate and graduate students.
- Bond Policy Abolition: The task force is in favor of doing away with the bond policy, which penalizes students for dropping a course in the middle of it or failing to complete service obligations. Students often experience increased stress and financial hardship as a result of this policy.
The aforementioned ideas are intended to tackle systemic problems that impact medical practitioners, improve mental health services, and establish a more equitable and balanced work environment within medical education.
SOURCE :
THE INDIAN EXPRESS
