Odisha government doctors intensify protest, OPDs shut for two hours

Bhubaneswar: Healthcare services continue to remain paralysed at government hospitals across Odisha, as government doctors, under the banner of the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), have extended their boycott of OPD services and National Health Mission (NHM) work to two hours daily.

The protest, which began on December 26 with a one-hour boycott, has now been extended to two hours from 9 am to 11 am every day, starting Monday. As a result, OPD services at government hospitals are being shut down during this period. However, emergency services, inpatient care and surgeries are continuing to ensure critical patients are not affected.

Earlier, OMSA had warned that if the state government failed to accept their demands, doctors would be forced to go for mass resignation. The association had initially announced a one-hour boycott of OPD and NHM services from December 26, 2025, and had indicated plans to launch a full strike in January 2026 if their demands remained unaddressed.

Also read- Odisha doctors suspend OPD services for one hour over unmet demands

OMSA said doctors have been waiting for over a decade for their demands to be fulfilled, but the government has not taken any concrete steps so far. Despite months of protest, the issues raised by doctors remain unresolved.

Medical Dialogues had reported that OMSA, which represents government doctors in the state, had warned of a statewide strike from January 2026 if their long-pending demands are not addressed by the end of December. The association said doctors would stop attending OPDs and completely halt work if the government continues to ignore their concerns.

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 has also demanded 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.

The association expressed dissatisfaction over the way doctors are being treated despite their years of education, experience, and service to patients in government hospitals.

Odisha Bytes reported that the two-hour boycott is being observed at all levels of government healthcare facilities, including primary health centres (PHC), community health centres (CHC) and district headquarters hospitals (DHH).

Earlier, doctors were closing OPD services for one hour daily. However, with no progress in talks, the association decided to extend the shutdown period. The state government has constituted an inter-departmental committee to examine the demands raised by the doctors.

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