Bhubaneswar: Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling held an important meeting with members of Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA).
The talks were significant as members of OMSA have threatened to halt outpatient department (OPD) services and works related to National Health Mission (NHM) for at least one hour a day starting December 26, over the state government’s alleged failure to address their long-standing grievances.
The outcome of this discussion with the OMSA representatives was positive, an official statement said after the meeting.
The meeting was held on the instruction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi keeping in view the importance of health services for the general public.
Respecting the demands made by OMSA, the Health Minister said that a committee will be formed to examine the demands made by the government doctors and take positive steps.
Mahaling urged the association to refrain from resorting to agitation, giving importance to the health of the people.
Following the meeting, OMSA members agreed to continue discussions with the government and ensure uninterrupted health services without any hindrance in the interest of people.
Health Secretary Aswathy S, Special Secretary Dr. Vijay Mohapatra and other senior officers were present during this meeting.
Notably, OMSA had earlier alleged that the government has failed to implement essential reforms needed to strengthen the state’s healthcare system though more than a year has passed since submitting a comprehensive list of demands to the Chief Minister and Health Minister.
The key demands include remuneration on par with the central government pay scale with abolition of level-15 as followed for other class-I officers of the Odisha government without any preconditions, and restructuring cadres proportionally across all levels, besides incremental incentives for super-specialists, specialists, and diploma-qualified administrators, along with postmortem allowances and equitable performance-based incentives for both Odisha Medical and Health Services (OMHS) and Odisha Medical Education Service (OMES) cadres.
The doctors are also demanding introduction of an exit policy for those who have served more than three years in challenging areas like Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) and KBK-plus regions, and tribal sub-plan areas.
They are also pushing for regular yearly recruitment of doctors, and timely promotion as well as revision of the Odisha Medicare Service Act of 2008 and inclusion of non-bailable warrants for assaults on medical staff and the deployment of 24-hour armed security with police outposts at all public health facilities.
The doctors also demanded regularisation of adhoc doctors and inclusion of the ad hoc and contractual period in the regular service and health insurance for all healthcare personnel.
The association members had also threatened to intensify their protest in the near future and may even go for mass resignation if needed.
