Burnout Crisis

A new global survey published in The Lancet highlights that over 60% of doctors report high levels of burnout, citing long hours, administrative overload, and staffing shortages. Personally, I see colleagues struggling with exhaustion and sometimes questioning whether to continue in clinical practice. Burnout not only affects our well-being but also patient safety, error rates, and continuity of care. Health systems must prioritize doctor wellness as much as patient outcomes — through staffing reforms, mental health support, and reducing bureaucratic tasks.

Should doctor well-being metrics (burnout scores, attrition) be tracked as part of hospital quality standards?