Ensuring the continuity of clinical operations while simultaneously protecting the physical well-being of healthcare professionals stands as the primary objective of a new directive issued by the Ministry of Health to all provincial health directorates (DSPs). The governing body reminded hospital administrators of their absolute obligation to strictly implement regulations governing medical call shifts and mandatory compensatory rest periods, emphasizing that adherence to these frameworks is vital for delivering optimal patient care.
This administrative memo effectively shines a spotlight on a deep-seated operational crisis within medical facilities. The Ministry of Health has ordered all hospital managers—spanning university hospitals (CHUs), public hospital entities (EPHs), and localized community health centers—to immediately realign operations with existing statutes dictating hospital call structures. This new mandate lands amidst ongoing friction among medical personnel, who have been severely strained by challenging workplace environments and shift schedules frequently drafted in flagrant violation of labor laws.
From the ministry’s perspective, the goal is to halt the decline in patient care standards, particularly during nocturnal shifts, while insulating healthcare workers from burnout amid escalating workloads—a deteriorating situation that medical unions have been sounding the alarm on for several years.
Within this official circular, the ministry reasserts the mandatory enforcement of provisions outlined in Executive Decree No. 13-195 of May 20, 2013, concerning on-call regimes, alongside corresponding ministerial guidelines regulating compensatory rest time and its practical implementation.
In its official correspondence, the central authority stresses that regulatory texts explicitly define shift hours and the exact prerequisites for granting recovery time. It emphasizes that meticulous execution is required to guarantee round-the-clock medical availability, safeguard patient safety, and preserve the stamina and mental acuity of healthcare staff.
Under the updated guidelines, overnight duties at university centers (CHUs), general public hospitals (EPHs), and specialized clinics (EHSs) will run from 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM the following morning on business days. On weekends and public holidays, schedules will be split into two distinct blocks: from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, followed by a nocturnal block from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
For local community health clinics (EPSPs), weekday shifts will commence at 7:00 PM and conclude at 8:00 AM the next day. The identical two-block formula—8:00 AM to 8:00 PM and 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM—remains standard for weekends and statutory holidays.
Furthermore, the ministry reiterated that every night shift completed legally entitles the professional to a full day of compensatory rest immediately following the shift’s end, in strict accordance with Article 9 of Executive Decree No. 13-195. This right can only be waived if the conclusion of the shift aligns directly with a regular weekly day off or an official public holiday.
Ultimately, the ministry clarified that enforcing these measures remains the direct accountability of hospital directors and department heads, who are expected to ensure total compliance with active legal frameworks or face immediate administrative penalties.