The Ministry of Health has launched an official proposal to shorten the extensive 24-hour shifts undertaken by resident internal doctors (MIR) and other specialists. The primary goal is to establish an unchangeable cap of 17 hours per shift, limit guards to a maximum of four per month, and increase the financial compensation for training professionals.
The new regulation will set an unchangeable cap of 17 continuous hours and 68 monthly guard hours. Additionally, the ordinary working day will be 35 hours per week, meaning the total of normal hours and guards will not exceed an average of 45 hours per week.
To ensure rest, 12 continuous free hours will be mandated between shifts, along with a minimum of 24 uninterrupted hours of weekly rest. Residents will not be required to start their ordinary workday immediately after a guard or to make up those hours later.
The proposal also includes a salary improvement through an increase in the "training grade supplement," which will grow progressively with experience, reaching up to 50% by the fifth year of residency.
This reform, which will modify the labor regulations in effect since 2006, will require hospitals and health centers to implement effective time control systems. Only one exceptional extra guard per month will be permitted, provided it is well-justified and voluntary.
Finally, the plan aims to protect the mental health of these young professionals. Teaching units will be obligated to assess residents' psychosocial risks every two years, and support groups will be created.
