Bhubaneswar, July 1 (UDN): Healthcare services across Odisha were disrupted on Wednesday as government doctors, under the banner of the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), began an indefinite strike demanding the implementation of their 10-point charter of demands.
Representational image
Doctors posted at government hospitals and healthcare institutions abstained from routine services and staged demonstrations in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and several other districts. While emergency and critical care services continued in most hospitals, outpatient and other non-emergency medical services were affected, causing inconvenience to patients.
OMSA said the decision to launch the agitation was taken after the state government allegedly failed to address the association’s long-pending demands despite repeated representations over the past one-and-a-half years. The association had announced the indefinite strike from July 1, coinciding with National Doctors’ Day.
Ahead of the strike, the state government held discussions with OMSA representatives in an attempt to resolve the impasse. However, the talks remained inconclusive, with the association stating that it was not satisfied with the government’s assurances.
Following an emergency meeting of its Action Committee on Tuesday night, OMSA reaffirmed its decision to continue with the agitation. Association President Dr. Kishore Mishra and General Secretary Dr. Sanjeeb Pradhan alleged that the committee constituted by the government to address the doctors’ grievances had failed to hold meaningful consultations, leaving the issues unresolved.
The association warned that any disciplinary action against striking doctors would be met with intensified protests, including demonstrations outside district police offices and police stations, followed by a proposed jail-bharo agitation if required.
Meanwhile, the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, extended its support to the protest. The junior doctors wore black badges while performing their duties and urged the state government to initiate immediate dialogue with OMSA to resolve the deadlock and restore normal healthcare services.