National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has proposed a maximum 48-hour work week for healthcare personnel across Nigeria as part of new guidelines aimed at reducing excessive workloads, fatigue and burnout among doctors.
Gatekeepers News reports that NARD announced the recommendations in a statement on Sunday by its Publicity and Social Secretary, Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, following deliberations with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The proposed framework followed a nationwide assessment conducted by a committee involving 6,350 healthcare personnel across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Under the recommendations, healthcare workers would work a maximum of 48 hours per week, including weekends. Any authorised hours beyond the limit would have to be appropriately documented and compensated.
The guidelines also propose that day shifts should not exceed eight hours, while afternoon shifts should be limited to six hours. Shifts lasting more than 12 hours would only be permitted in emergency situations.
NARD further recommended that call duties should not exceed two per week, with a maximum of one weekend call each month and equitable distribution of call duties among eligible healthcare personnel.
The association also proposed a maximum of 24 continuous hours of duty, followed by a mandatory 24-hour post-call rest period after weekday, Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday calls.
Healthcare personnel would also be entitled to at least 12 hours of rest between regular shifts and a minimum one-hour break after six hours of continuous work.
NARD said any authorised additional working hours should either attract compensation above the normal hourly rate or be balanced through structured time off.
The proposed guidelines also provide for protected time for research, training and professional development.
According to NARD, the recommendations are intended to address concerns around excessive work hours, inadequate rest, fatigue and burnout while improving the welfare of healthcare workers and the quality of patient care.
The association said the guidelines had been forwarded to medical directors and chief medical directors for implementation across health institutions.
It urged hospital managements and heads of departments to work towards compliance, while asking its centre leadership to monitor implementation and report cases of non-compliance through appropriate channels.
NARD said another document addressing the casualisation and abusive use of locum appointments would be released soon. However, the association noted that the proposed work-hour guidelines remain subject to approval by the National Council on Health.
