The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has recommended new work-hour regulations for healthcare personnel, including a maximum 48-hour working week and a 24-hour limit for continuous duty.
The proposed framework is aimed at addressing excessive working hours, fatigue and burnout among healthcare workers while improving patient safety.
Under the recommendations, healthcare personnel would work a maximum of 48 hours per week, including weekends. Any authorised hours worked beyond the limit would have to be properly documented and compensated.
The association also proposed a maximum eight-hour day shift and six-hour afternoon shift, while shifts exceeding 12 hours would only be permitted in genuine emergencies.
NARD’s Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, disclosed the recommendations in a statement, explaining that they followed deliberations by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Ministerial Committee on Work Hour Regulation and Casualisation of Doctors.
The committee conducted a nationwide assessment involving 6,350 healthcare personnel across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to NARD, the assessment highlighted the urgent need to tackle excessive working hours, inadequate rest, burnout and fatigue among healthcare workers, as well as the potential consequences for patient safety.
Under the proposed guidelines, healthcare personnel would be limited to two call duties per week, including weekend calls, with a maximum of one weekend call per month.
The association also recommended an absolute maximum of 24 continuous hours of duty, inclusive of call duty.
Healthcare workers would be entitled to at least 12 hours of rest between regular shifts, as well as a mandatory 24-hour post-call rest period following weekday, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday calls.
NARD further recommended a minimum one-hour break after six hours of continuous work, including during shifts and call duties.
Where necessary, the breaks could be staggered to ensure that patient care is not disrupted.
The association said authorised additional working hours must be documented and adequately compensated, either through payment above the normal hourly rate or structured time off.
It also recommended protected time for healthcare personnel to conduct research and pursue professional development, subject to approval from relevant health research and ethics committees.
NARD said the recommendations had been forwarded to medical directors and chief medical directors of health institutions for implementation.
It urged hospital managements and heads of departments to ensure compliance, while encouraging its members to document cases of non-compliance and report them through their respective centre leadership.
The association clarified that the recommended limits would not rule out exceptional arrangements during genuine emergencies where patient safety and continuity of care require longer working hours.
NARD expressed hope that the National Council on Health would approve the recommendations and support their implementation across the country.
