Medical officers associated with the Government Ayurveda and Unani Medical Services Association have begun boycotting Outpatient Department (OPD) services in support of their long-pending service-related demands. The protest started on Saturday after repeated appeals to the authorities reportedly failed to yield concrete action on several issues affecting medical officers across the state.
Memorandum Submitted to Authorities
Office-bearers of the association submitted a memorandum to the Director of Ayurveda and Unani through the District Ayurveda and Unani Officer, urging immediate intervention to address the concerns raised by the medical fraternity. The association warned that if their demands remain unresolved, a complete statewide work boycott will commence from June 15.
Key Demands Raised by Medical Officers
Among the major demands is the appointment of a permanent director for the medical cadre. Doctors have also sought completion of pending Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) and timely implementation of benefits under the Assured Career Progression (ACP) and Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) schemes.
The association further demanded implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme, which was approved in 2022 but has yet to be fully implemented. According to the memorandum, unresolved service-related issues have persisted for years, causing widespread dissatisfaction among medical officers.
Demand for Better Promotion Opportunities
Medical officers have also called for restructuring the departmental framework to create more promotion opportunities within the Ayurveda and Unani services. Another significant demand is the provision of three years of study leave with full salary for doctors pursuing postgraduate education.
The association additionally sought regularisation of medical officers from the 2024 batch, highlighting the need for greater job security and career progression within the department.
Concerns Over Attendance Systems
The memorandum raised concerns regarding mobile application-based attendance and Aadhaar-linked biometric attendance systems. Doctors working in hilly and remote regions reported facing considerable challenges due to poor internet connectivity and weak mobile network coverage.
According to the association, these technical limitations often make attendance recording difficult, creating unnecessary stress and administrative hurdles for healthcare professionals serving in difficult terrain.
Doctors Seek Early Resolution
The association urged the department to adopt a practical and sympathetic approach toward the issues raised and ensure an early resolution of pending demands. Representatives present during the submission of the memorandum included Dr. Satyaveer Singh, Dr. Siddhi, Dr. K.P. Singh and several other medical officers.
The ongoing boycott is expected to impact OPD services, and healthcare authorities are likely to face increasing pressure to address the concerns before the proposed statewide work boycott escalates further.
