Bhubaneswar: Even after the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988 (ESMA) was invoked to ban their strike, the government doctors continued their protest on Wednesday by suspending Outpatient Department (OPD) services for two hours, affecting patient care across the state.
Despite the imposition of ESMA, members of the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) went ahead with its scheduled agitation, enforcing a statewide OPD shutdown from 9 am to 11 am. The protest is part of the doctors’ ongoing movement pressing for the fulfilment of their 10-point charter of demands.
Suspension of OPD services by the agitating doctors has caused inconvenience to patients, particularly those from rural and remote areas, who depend on government hospitals for regular medical consultations.
Notably, the state government invoked ESMA on Tuesday, making it illegal to disrupt essential medical services, including emergency care. Under the provisions of the Act, no strike or agitation is permitted if it hampers emergency services. However, the protesting doctors continued their agitation, asserting that they would not withdraw the protest until their demands were addressed.
OMSA warned that the movement will continue despite the government’s action and has reiterated its decision not to call off the protest. The doctors stuck to their decision even though the state government has constituted a high-level committee to consider their demands.
While emergency services remain operational, the OPD shutdown has drawn criticism for adversely affecting routine healthcare services.
The standoff between the Odisha government and the doctors’ association continues, with patients bearing the brunt of the prolonged agitation.
The two-hour boycott is being observed at all levels of government healthcare facilities, including primary health centres (PHC), community health centres (CHC) and district headquarters hospitals (DHH).
OMSA has been agitating since December 26, pressing for fulfilment of its 10-point charter of demands. The demands are as follows:
1. Equal pay scales matching those of central government employees, including the removal of Level-15 (as applicable to other Class-I officers in the Odisha government) without any preconditions.
2. Proportional restructuring of cadres across all grades.
3. Additional financial incentives for super-specialists, specialists, and diploma-holding medical administrators, along with a dedicated postmortem allowance and equivalent Performance-Based Incentives (PBI) for both OMHS and OMES cadres.
4. An exit policy allowing doctors who have served more than three years in the Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK), KBK-plus, and tribal sub-plan regions to opt out or transfer.
5. Annual regular recruitment of doctors and ensuring timely promotions.
6. Amendment of the Odisha Medicare Act-2008 to include non-bailable warrants for individuals assaulting doctors.
7. Provision of 24/7 armed security and dedicated police outposts in all healthcare facilities across the state.
8. Additionally, the doctors have sought:Regularisation of ad-hoc appointments.
9. Counting of ad-hoc and contractual service periods toward regular service benefits.
10. Comprehensive health insurance coverage for all healthcare workers.
While intensifying the agitation, OMSA has clarified that emergency and critical care services will continue without disruption.
