Hospitals are places where lives are saved. It is expected that people who work in hospitals feel safe. But this is not always true. In India, many women who work in hospitals face challenges that are not often spoken about. These challenges are not just about their work. These are about safety, mental stress, long shifts, and the pressure they face every day.
Knya carried out a survey with over 10,000 doctors across India. The aim was to understand what doctors go through in their everyday life. The result is Knya Vitals: The Report With a Heartbeat. The report shares real experiences from medical colleges, rural hospitals, busy urban clinics, and government healthcare centers. It includes views from female doctors, interns, residents, and specialists.
The data shows that many women doctors do not feel safe all the time at work. It also shows how long work hours and lack of rest affect their minds and health. This blog explains the hidden safety challenges they face.
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1. Long Shifts Without Breaks
Women in hospitals often work for many hours without proper rest. Some shifts go up to 36 hours. These long shifts leave no time for food or sleep. When doctors do not sleep well, their ability to focus reduces. It also makes them feel tired all the time. Knya Vitals shows that over 75% of doctors said their work shifts are too long. Most of them were women.
2. Unsafe Hostel and Living Conditions
Many young women doctors live in hostels inside hospital campuses. Some also live near the hospitals in shared apartments. According to Knya Vitals, many of these women do not feel safe in these places. There are not enough security guards. Many buildings do not have working CCTV cameras. Some lights in the corridors or parking areas do not work. These small gaps create fear, especially during night duties.
3. Night Duties and Travel Risks
Hospitals need doctors round the clock. Women doctors often have to attend emergencies at night. Many of them travel between their hostel and hospital blocks late at night. Some use two-wheelers. Some walk. Many roads near hospital areas are empty and dark at night. Travel during these times feels unsafe. In the Knya survey, 6 out of 10 women doctors said they do not feel safe traveling for night duties.
4. Lack of Support During Harassment
Some women in hospitals face verbal abuse, inappropriate behavior, or touching from patients or attendants. In some cases, it also comes from staff or seniors. Many do not report these events. The reasons include fear of being blamed or not being believed. Knya Vitals shows that many doctors feel that no strong system exists to take action in such cases.
5. Mental Pressure and Fatigue
Women doctors carry the weight of many responsibilities. They are expected to work long hours, stay alert, and care for patients without showing stress. This leads to mental fatigue. Knya Vitals reports that 8 out of 10 doctors feel mentally tired at least once a week. Among women doctors, the number is even higher. Mental fatigue can cause headaches, sleep issues, and emotional numbness.
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6. Gender Bias at Work
Many women doctors said that they face gender bias in hospitals. Some said that they are not taken seriously by patients. Others said they have to prove their skills more than their male peers. This leads to added stress. In teaching hospitals, some women students said their questions are ignored during rounds. Knya’s survey captured these issues that are often not written in reports but are felt daily.
7. No Private Rest Areas
Doctors on night duty often need a place to rest between calls. Many hospitals do not provide private resting areas for female doctors. In some cases, they share space with male doctors or junior staff. This makes it uncomfortable. Women doctors said that they feel unsafe sleeping in open or shared spaces. They also worry about privacy while changing clothes or washing up.
8. Lack of Sanitary Facilities
Many hospitals lack clean toilets and hygiene spaces for women. This becomes worse during long hours or when on-call for many shifts. In Knya Vitals, women doctors shared that they often have to go long hours without using the washroom. This affects their comfort and health. The problem is worse in smaller hospitals and rural centers.
9. No Counseling for Stress
There is little mental health support in hospitals for doctors. There are no regular counseling sessions. Women who face harassment, mental pressure, or fear have no place to share their problems. Knya Vitals found that 9 out of 10 doctors said they do not have access to any mental health services in their workplace.
10. Poor Reporting Systems
Some hospitals do not have an easy way to report safety issues. Even when someone wants to complain, they do not know who to go to. Many doctors said that even when reports are made, action is delayed. This causes frustration and fear. Knya Vitals shows a gap in systems that are meant to protect those who heal others.
Conclusion
Women doctors in India face safety risks that are not always visible. These include long shifts, unsafe travel, lack of rest, and absence of mental health support. Many also deal with poor hostel security, harassment, and bias. These challenges affect their performance, health, and peace of mind.
Knya Vitals shares these real voices through data and stories. These are not just problems. These are signals that change is needed. Hospitals must make sure that the people who work there feel safe and respected. Clean hostels, working security systems, fair duty hours, and support for mental stress are basic needs.
Knya believes that every doctor deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen. The voices in the Knya Vitals report ask for more than appreciation—they ask for action. By listening and making small changes, the healthcare system can become better for all.