Healthcare services at government hospitals across Odisha continue to remain disrupted as government doctors, under the banner of the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), have intensified their protest by extending the daily boycott of OPD and National Health Mission (NHM) services to two hours.
OPDs Shut from 9 am to 11 am
The agitation, which began on December 26 with a one-hour boycott, has now been extended to two hours every day—from 9 am to 11 am—starting Monday. As a result, OPD services at government hospitals remain suspended during this period. However, OMSA has clarified that emergency services, inpatient care and surgeries are continuing to ensure that critical patients are not affected.
Warning of Mass Resignation and Full Strike
Earlier, OMSA had warned that if the state government failed to address their long-pending demands, doctors would be compelled to submit mass resignations. The association had also announced that it would escalate the agitation to a complete strike in January 2026 if there was no meaningful response from the government.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that OMSA had set a December-end deadline for the government to resolve the issues, failing which statewide strike action would be launched.
Key Demands Pending for Over a Decade
According to OMSA, doctors have been waiting for more than ten years for their demands to be fulfilled, despite repeated protests and representations. The primary demand is the immediate implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) system, which guarantees timely promotions for government doctors.
Other major demands include:
- KBK exit policy
- Transparent transfer procedures
- Cadre restructuring and regular Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs)
- Safety and security of healthcare professionals
- Health insurance and basic workplace amenities
- PAR reforms and clean administration
- Uniform OPD and emergency service policies
- Revision of allowances
- Regularisation of ad-hoc doctors
- Strengthening of healthcare institutions
- Justice for retired and veteran doctors
- Inclusion of OMSA in policy consultations
Statewide Impact Across All Healthcare Levels
According to Odisha Bytes, the two-hour OPD boycott is being observed across all levels of government healthcare facilities, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs).
Doctors had initially limited the shutdown to one hour daily, but with no progress in discussions, the association decided to intensify the protest.
Government Response
In response to the agitation, the Odisha government has constituted an inter-departmental committee to examine the demands raised by the doctors. However, OMSA has expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of concrete outcomes so far, stating that the continued neglect of doctors’ concerns has forced them to escalate the protest.
The situation remains tense as doctors signal readiness to take stronger action if their demands continue to be ignored.
