Publication:

Burnout among doctors in India: epidemiology, determinants, consequences and policy imperatives

Physician burnout, characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced professional accomplishment, is a major concern in India’s healthcare system. This review synthesised evidence on the prevalence, determinants, consequences and policy gaps related to physician burnout in India. Systematic searches of PubMed, Google Scholar and IndMED databases between January 2010 and December 2024 using the terms ("physician burnout" OR "occupational stress") AND ("India" OR "Indian"). WHO publications, National Health Profile reports, and National Medical Commission directives were grey literature that were reviewed. Studies utilising validated tools (Maslach Burnout Inventory, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) and policy evaluations of working circumstances were given priority under the inclusion criteria. Career-stage stratification is seen in the incidence of burnout: 30–75% among medical students, 60–80% among residents (with a high of 85% in surgical specialities), and 35–65% among practicing physicians. An extra 600,000 doctors are needed nationwide due to critical labour shortages. Reduced patient safety, increased depression and suicidal ideation risks, and attrition in the healthcare system are some of the consequences. Current regulations lack nationally standardised, quantitatively defined and enforceable duty-hour limits and mandated institutional wellness infrastructure. Physician burnout is a systemic failure that calls for coordinated interventions, such as mandatory institutional wellness infrastructure, medicolegal reform, nationally standardised duty-hour regulations, strategic workforce expansion with equitable distribution, and cultural transformation that positions wellbeing as a professional competency. For policy accountability and adaptive improvement, national surveillance mechanisms must be established.