Islamabad High Court orders review of doctors' 102-hour work weeks

In a hearing before Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, the Islamabad High Court ordered the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council to scrutinize the practice of requiring doctors to work up to 102 hours per one outlet and to forward its findings to both federal and provincial governments. The court noted the schedule as inhuman after reviewing a petition and converting it into a formal representation with the parties' agreement. The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan presented evidence that after 18 hours of duty doctors exhibit psychomotor impairment similar to a blood-alcohol level of 0.05, rising to 0.1 after 24 hours, raising concerns about patient safety.

It also cited international standards, such as the European Working Time Directive’s 48-hour limit and the United States’ 80-hour cap, as benchmarks. The CPSP recommended a minimum 48-hour week for residency programmes and stressed that reducing hours would require additional staffing and better working conditions, especially in hot or poorly ventilated environments.