Latest news with #NalandaMedicalCollege
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Long work hours taking toll on doctors' mental health: Experts
Patna: Who saves the saviour — this is a million-dollar question modern-day medical practitioners face. Long working hours, huge patient load and emotional stress witnessing deaths on a day-to-day basis takes a toll on their mental health. Doctors fight their own silent battles: their mental well-being, behind stoic masks worn in hospitals. This year's theme of National Doctors' Day, marked on July 1 — 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?' — highlights this often-overlooked struggle. Dr Santosh Kumar, head of the dept of psychiatry in Nalanda Medical College, said a doctor's life is inherently stressful. "There is a higher suicide rates among doctors. Long work hours, especially for junior doctors, largely impact their mental health. Many do not get enough time for essential activities like sleep and exercise. Those posted in emergency department are also vulnerable due to the demanding work culture there," he said, adding that recent studies have found 30.1% of health-care professionals suffer from depression, with 16.7% having suicidal thoughts. Approximately two-thirds experience moderate stress (67.2%) and 13% face high levels of stress. According to Dr Niska Sinha, senior psychiatrist at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, the mental health of doctors is a concerning issue, with many physicians experiencing burnout, depression and anxiety due to the high-stress nature of their job. "In places like Bihar, the doctor-patient ideal ratio is low, which leads to excess workload. There is also a lot of expectation. Burnouts among doctors have increased after Covid-19, and there is a stigma associated with mental health in the medical profession. Doctors are supposed to be strong. There are also professional barriers in seeking help from a doctor, no privacy because of being in the same profession," she said, adding factors such as long working hours, high patient loads, lack of resources and the emotional toll of dealing with suffering and death contribute to these issues. She suggested that providing safe and confidential access to mental health services can help physicians feel more comfortable seeking help. "Addressing the mental health of doctors requires systemic reforms, cultural shifts and improved support structures. Implementing policies to ease burdens and promote work-life balance can help reduce burnout and improve mental health. By prioritising physicians' well-being, we can ensure high-quality patient care and sustain the healthcare system in the long run. We need to save the saviour," she said.
India.com
21-05-2025
- Health
- India.com
Rats Bite Patients Hand In Bihar; Tejashwi Yadav Slams Health Minister
PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on Bihar's Health Minister Mangal Pandey, criticising him for deteriorating condition of the state's healthcare system following a shocking incident where a patient's hand was gnawed by rats in Nalanda Medical College and Hospital. Tejashwi took strong exception to the incident and challenged Pandey to a public debate on the state of healthcare in Bihar. 'Just arrange the stage and mic, and inform me a day in advance. I'll come and expose how little work has actually been done,' said Tejashwi Yadav while speaking to the media persons in Patna on Wednesday. Tejashwi accused the Health Minister of being completely disconnected from the system. 'He never visits hospitals, not even for surprise checks. When I was Deputy Chief Minister, we launched Mission 60 days, conducted inspections, and took action against over 700 negligent doctors,' Yadav said. He cited poor conditions in medical colleges in Muzaffarpur, Madhepura, and Purnea, saying they reflect the complete breakdown of governance in the health sector. 'Hospital beds are being sold by mafias, and the health minister of Bihar is clueless,' he added. Tejashwi Yadav also targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of being detached and ineffective. 'He is in an unconscious state. His officials occasionally take him to inspect construction sites in Patna, but beyond that, he is unaware of what's happening - be it poverty, unemployment, law and order, or the crumbling health system,' Yadav said. Awadesh Prasad, a disabled person from Nalanda, was admitted to the NMCH on Saturday and underwent surgery. His fingers were bitten by rats post-surgery when he was sleeping on the hospital bed in the early hours of Sunday. The rat bite incident has triggered widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of Bihar's public hospitals.
