Non-Regularisation of Jobs: Odisha AYUSH doctors threaten to go on indefinite stir from March 20

Bhubaneswar: In the absence of any visible action from the government regarding job regularisation, the All Odisha Ayush Doctors Association (AOADA), representing Ayush doctors working under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Odisha has threatened to go on an indefinite non-cooperation movement starting March 20 if their demands are not met.  

Demanding regularisation of AYUSH doctors working in Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across the state, the association has warned that they will not cooperate in the work from the 20th March 2024. 

The association alleged that the government failed to provide them permanent employment which was promised during the last cabinet before the general elections in 2024. Moreover, they also alleged that they made repeated appeals to the Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, for their regularization but no heed was paid to their demands. 

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Alleging that the government overlooked Ayush doctors when other medical professionals have been regularised, the association has clarified that they will initiate the stir from March 20 if the government fails to take action by March 19. 

Medical Dialogues team had last year reported that the AYUSH doctors, under the banner of State RBSK AYUSH Doctors’ Association in Odisha, went on a strike at the Lower PMG Square in Bhubaneswar for their long-standing protests over the regularization of jobs.

As per the Association, 1,126 Ayush doctors are working at present on a contractual basis in 1,485 CHCs and PHCs across the state.

In a press conference, Dr Lotus Mishra, President of the AOADA told Orissadiary, “The National Health Mission’s 2014 declaration promised to regularize the employment of doctors and all paramedical positions. Although approximately 8,195 positions for nurses, pharmacists, ANMs, etc., were regularized through a cabinet decision, AYUSH doctors were overlooked, with no action taken. 

If the government does not act by March 19, we will be compelled to begin a non-cooperation movement. We will refrain from providing any services other than Ayush and inpatient services, including telemedicine services, health programs, supervision, and training.”

General Secretary, Dr Pravas Chandra Swain, said, “Even though the appointment of Ayush doctors has been done according to ORV, it has not been regularized. Starting from the Chief Minister’s office, the inter-ministerial level committee, and the health minister, the health secretary have all given a reliable promise to regularize. Even though the chief minister’s office assured us to regularize after the 2019 general election process, no action has been taken so far. If our demands are not met this time, we will start an indefinite non-cooperation movement from March 20”.

Also read- Odisha AYUSH Doctors Stage Protest Seeking Job Regularisation