Odisha doctors suspend OPD services for one hour over unmet demands

Bhubaneswar: As announced earlier, the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), representing government doctors in the state, has suspended OPD services at government hospitals and National Health Mission (NHM) work for one hour from 10 am to 11 am from December 26, 2025.

The doctors decided to continue their indefinite strike starting from today, even though recent talks with the state government yielded a positive response. The association stated that the government has not given any written assurance that their demands would be addressed, and they were only told that a committee would be formed to review their demands, reports Odisha Bytes.

On Thursday, a meeting between Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling and OMSA representatives was held amid doctors’ long-standing demands, which they alleged have not been addressed by the state government.

According to an official statement, the discussions yielded a positive outcome, with the government agreeing to take steps to address the concerns raised by government doctors.

Also read- Odisha doctors to halt OPD services from December 26, threaten mass resignation

Odisha Bytes reports that the meeting was convened on the instructions of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, keeping in mind the importance of uninterrupted healthcare services for the public.

During the meeting, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling assured OMSA that a committee would be formed to examine the doctors’ demands and take appropriate action. He also appealed to the association to refrain from resorting to agitation and prioritise public health.

However, the association has decided to continue the agitation as per its earlier announcement, as per Odisha Bytes news report.

The main demand of OMSA is the quick implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) system, which ensures timely promotions for government doctors. Following this, the doctors demand a KBK exit policy, transparent transfer procedures, cadre restructuring, regular DPCs, safety and security of healthcare professionals, health insurance, and basic amenities.

The association also want PAR reforms, clean administration, uniform OPD and emergency services, and involvement of OMSA in consultations on policy matters. In addition, Capital Hospital, revising allowances, regularising ad-hoc doctors, strengthening institutions, and justice for veterans are among the other major issues raised by the doctors.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that government doctors under OMSA announced that it will stop OPD services for at least one hour and suspend National Health Mission (NHM)-related work from December 26, 2025, before launching a full strike in January 2026.

The association said doctors have been waiting for more than a decade for their demands to be fulfilled, but the government has not taken any concrete steps so far. As a mark of protest against what they called the government’s false assurances, doctors will suspend OPD services for at least one hour. They also said the agitation may be intensified in the coming days, including the option of mass resignation.

Also read- Odisha govt doctors warn of statewide strike from January