Odisha Govt doctors stage 2-hour OPD boycott, defying ESMA orders

Bhubaneswar: Despite the Odisha government invoking the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA), 1988, to stop doctors and other healthcare workers from going on strike, government doctors under the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) went ahead with their scheduled protest on Wednesday by boycotting OPD services for two hours.

As part of the protest, OPD services were suspended from 9 am to 11 am at all government medical colleges and hospitals across the state, defying the government’s order. The protest is part of their ongoing agitation demanding the fulfilment of their 10-point charter of demands.

Under the ESMA order, strikes in the form of cessation of work by doctors, nursing officers, pharmacists, paramedics, technicians and Class III and IV employees, including contractual staff, engaged in government hospitals and dispensaries have been banned for six months with effect from Tuesday.

Also read- Odisha government doctors intensify protest, OPDs shut for two hours

However, doctors have said that the protest will continue despite the government’s action and have clearly stated that they will not withdraw the agitation. While emergency services are being provided, the OPD shutdown has affected routine healthcare services, as per Hindustan Samachar media report. The boycott has caused serious inconvenience to patients, especially those travelling from rural areas,

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Odisha government on Tuesday invoked the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988, to prohibit strikes by doctors and other healthcare staff, as agitating doctors intensified their protest by extending the outpatient department (OPD) services boycott to two hours daily.

The doctors are demanding pay parity with central government employees, proportional restructuring of cadres across all grades, and additional financial incentives for super-specialists, specialists and diploma medical administrators.

Doctors in government hospitals and health centres have been boycotting OPD services since December 26, initially for one hour a day, which was extended to two hours from 9 am to 11 am starting January 5. Emergency services, inpatient care and surgeries, however, have continued uninterrupted.

The agitation, under the banner of the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), has been ongoing since November over a 10-point charter of demands, including filling up of vacant posts. Before the OPD boycott, doctors had protested by wearing black badges.

The state government invoked ESMA after the OMSA rejected an appeal by Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling to resume duties, with an assurance that the demands would be considered sympathetically. The government has also constituted an inter-departmental committee to examine the issues raised by the doctors.

The OMSA, however, rejected the government’s appeal and committee proposal, insisting on a written assurance for the fulfilment of their demands.

Also read- Odisha Govt imposes ESMA as doctors protest for pay parity