Israel's overworked hospital interns face crisis

Knesset committee recently presented with grim data: Many interns work 30-hour shifts, forced to receive new patients alone at overcrowded departments; MK Yacimovich: Patients paying the price

Reuters | Published: 08.05.10, 17:18

Israel's hospital interns are facing a nearly unbearable workload while their rights are being blatantly violated, The Knesset's Labor, Welfare, and Health Committee was recently told, highlighting a growing crisis among the nation's future doctors.

The predicament faced by medical interns undermines Israel's healthcare, as patients also pay the price, critics say.

According to data presented by Mirsham, a non-profit group dedicated to doctors' rights in Israel, interns must perform independent intake of six to seven new patients per night shift, as occupancy rates at hospitals exceed capacity.

Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi, a doctor himself, said "the state of interns was terrible in the past and it continues to be awful today." In a bid to address the problem, MK Tibi recently submitted a bill limiting the work hours of doctors and medical staff. At this time, shifts at Israeli hospitals can exceed 30 hours.

The recent Knesset committee debate prompted MKs to unanimously order a revision of current regulations. However, the issue now faces the Treasury's approval as it needs to earmark the budgets required for such changes to materialize.

'Basic rights trampled'

At this time, despite regulations ordering interns to head home after 24 hours of straight work, the shortage of doctors at Israeli hospitals is so grave that it forces interns to stay overtime. Moreover, after working a full 24 hours and without sleep, the interns still must determine treatment methods and perform examinations.

Addressing the grim situation, Dr. Lior Pearl of Mirsham noted that several studies have showed that the effect of continuing to work after 24 hours is similar to that of working under the influence of alcohol.

"The workload at this time is immeasurably greater than it's been in the past, and the situation continues to deteriorate," he said. "We fear that interns would not be able to provide the required quality of care, as befits a Western nation, should this trend continue."

In addition, interns do not get paid for the extra work they perform in overextended shifts. Meanwhile, US regulations limit weekly working hours to 80, while in Europe shifts are limited to 16 hours.

Summing up the situation, Knesset Member Shelly Yacimovich said: "At this time, medical interns are among the most exploited sectors in the economy. They are employed while breaching every collective agreement and trampling basic rights to the point where they're not entitled to a weekly day of rest. Those paying the price at the end of the day are the patients."