On Friday, 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 resident doctors will also be required to submit a medical certificate in their first year.

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 decision was taken following a request made by the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) last year. 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.

Dr Sagar Mundada, president of Central MARD, said: “Any first year resident doctor of any clinical branch works more than 100 hours a week as against the prescribed norm of 48 hours a week.” He said that there have been four suicide attempts by resident doctors in the past one year, highlighting the need for regular mental health screenings so that those in the high-risk group can be identified and counselled on time.

It was in this scheme, that the work hours for resident doctors were stipulated at 48 hours a week.