The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has proposed new regulations limiting resident doctors and other healthcare personnel to a maximum of 48 working hours per week, including weekends.
Resident doctors are medical graduates undergoing specialist training and play a major role in providing care, particularly in emergency units across Nigerian hospitals.
NARD’s Publicity and Social Secretary, Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, disclosed the proposal in a statement on Sunday, explaining that the guidelines followed consultations with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He said the recommendations were developed after a nationwide assessment involving 6,350 healthcare workers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Under the proposed framework, weekend duties would attract appropriate compensation, while healthcare workers would also be entitled to mandatory rest periods after call duties.
“Healthcare personnel shall work a maximum of 48 hours per week, including weekends. Any authorized excess hours shall be appropriately compensated,” the statement reads.
The proposed guidelines further provide that regular day shifts should not exceed eight hours, while afternoon shifts would be limited to six hours.
Shifts lasting more than 12 hours would only be permitted in emergency situations.
“Call duties shall not exceed two per week and one weekend call per month, with equitable distribution among eligible healthcare personnel,” the statement reads.
The framework also recommends at least 12 hours of rest between regular shifts. In addition, healthcare personnel would be entitled to 24 hours of mandatory post-call rest following weekday, Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday calls.
Healthcare workers would also be required to receive at least a one-hour break after six consecutive hours of work. Hospitals would be expected to organise the breaks in a staggered manner to ensure patient care is not disrupted.
NARD said any authorised additional working hours should be properly documented and compensated either through payment above the normal hourly rate or structured time off.
The association also recommended protected periods for healthcare workers to engage in research and professional development.
According to NARD, the guidelines have been forwarded to medical directors and chief medical directors for implementation across healthcare institutions.
The association urged hospital managements and heads of departments to ensure compliance with the proposed regulations. It also encouraged its centre leaderships to engage hospital management and monitor implementation.
NARD further advised its members to document any cases of non-compliance and submit legitimate complaints through their respective centre leaderships for appropriate action.
The association disclosed that a separate document addressing casualisation and abusive locum appointments would be released soon.
However, NARD clarified that the proposed work-hour regulations would still require approval from the National Council on Health before they can take effect.