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Odisha Doctors Strike: Essential Services Act Invoked
7 Jan
Summary
- Doctors' strike deemed illegal by state government, invoking ESMA for six months.
- Doctors are boycotting OPD services to press for 10-point demands including pay parity.
- Over 50% of sanctioned doctor posts are vacant in Odisha, increasing workload.
The Odisha government has declared the ongoing doctors' agitation illegal, citing disruptions to essential medical services. Under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), strikes by healthcare professionals, including doctors, have been banned for six months, effective from Tuesday.
The Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) doctors initiated a boycott of Out-Patient Department (OPD) services for two hours daily, from 9 am to 11 am, as part of a movement for their 10-point demands. These demands encompass pay parity with central government employees, cadre restructuring, and financial incentives for specialists.
Despite the government's invocation of ESMA, OMSA president Kishore Mishra stated that the boycott was a symbolic protest and that emergency services, surgeries, and indoor treatments were unaffected. The association highlighted a critical shortage of doctors, with more than 50% of the 15,776 sanctioned posts remaining vacant, placing additional pressure on existing staff.
