Government Assurances Lead to End of Protest
Bhubaneswar: Government doctors across Odisha on Thursday withdrew their outpatient department (OPD) boycott after receiving assurances from Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling that most of their demands would be addressed. The decision followed a meeting between the minister and representatives of the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA).
Healthcare Services to Resume Normally
With the strike being called off, healthcare services at state-run hospitals are expected to return to normal from Friday, ending the two-hour daily OPD shutdown that had disrupted patient care across the state for several days.
Background of the Agitation
The agitation, led by OMSA, began on December 26, with doctors boycotting OPD services for one hour daily until January 5. From January 5 onwards, the protest intensified into a two-hour daily OPD shutdown, causing inconvenience to patients. This continued even after the Odisha government invoked the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA), 1988, banning strikes by healthcare workers.
Government’s Efforts to Resolve the Dispute
To address doctors’ grievances, the state government had earlier constituted an inter-departmental committee to examine their demands. On January 5, the government agreed to some key demands, including doubling the post-mortem examination stipend from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 and enhancing postgraduate incentives for dentists. Despite this, the protest continued until further discussions were held.
Positive Outcome After Renewed Talks
Following detailed deliberations, the deadlock was resolved. Speaking to TOI, Health Minister Mahaling said OMSA had agreed to end the OPD strike and resolve issues through dialogue. OMSA president Dr Kishore Mishra also termed the talks positive, stating that several demands were likely to be fulfilled soon and that the agitation had been suspended, paving the way for restoration of normal services.
