Bhubaneswar: The indefinite cease-work agitation by government doctors, led by the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), entered its second day on Thursday, severely impacting outpatient departments (OPD) and routine medical services in numerous state-run hospitals, especially in district and rural areas.
The strike began on Wednesday, July 1, coinciding with National Doctors’ Day, after the state government failed to address the doctors’ long-pending demands despite repeated representations over more than a year. OMSA has mobilised doctors from various cadres, including Odisha Medical and Health Services physicians, dental surgeons, contractual medical officers, those deputed to medical colleges, and postgraduate students.
Key demands in the 10-point charter include proportionate cadre restructuring (with restructuring reportedly overdue after seven years), implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme aligned with central government patterns from the date of eligibility, a transparent and merit-based transfer policy, resolution of pay scale anomalies for parity with central counterparts, an exit policy for KBK and TSP regions, enhanced incentives for specialists and super-specialists, comprehensive health insurance, better workplace safety measures (including revisions to the Odisha Medicare Act), postmortem allowances, regularisation of ad-hoc doctors, and filling of vacant posts.
Health services have been thrown out of gear in major facilities across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and districts like Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and Jajpur. Patients faced long queues at OPDs, with many returning without consultation as senior doctors abstained from duty. Only limited staff handled emergencies in several places.
“I have been standing in the queue since 7 am, and more than three hours have passed, but no senior doctor attended the out-patient department. Only a few physicians are available,” a woman patient in Baleshwar district told reporters.
The association has warned to intensify its agitation if the demands are not fulfilled soon, while emphasising that it is aimed at improving service conditions, career progression, and ultimately the quality of public healthcare in the state.
