Bhubaneswar: The All Odisha AYUSH Doctors’ Association (AOADA) has announced a statewide protest from March 27 over the non-fulfilment of their long-pending demands by the state government.
Key Demands:
- Permanent employment for AYUSH doctors.
- Pay parity with government Ayurveda and Homeopathy doctors.
- Access to higher education and regular medicine supply.
- ₹20 lakh health insurance for doctors and their families.
- ₹40 lakh compensation for families of doctors who die in service.
18 Years of Service, Yet No Job Security
AOADA President Dr. Prashant Kumar Padhi stated that 1,485 AYUSH doctors working in Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) under the National Health Mission (NHM) have been serving for 18 years without regularisation, fair wages, or job security.
“We will stage a peaceful protest at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar. If our demands are not met, we will intensify our agitation,” he warned.
Govt Ignoring AYUSH Doctors?
AOADA General Secretary Dr. Pravas Chandra Swain accused the state government of making false promises. He pointed out that while 8,195 contractual health workers, including nurses, pharmacists, and lab technicians, were regularised in 2019, AYUSH doctors were excluded.
The association has urged the government to take immediate action, failing which they will escalate their protest.
