Bhubaneswar: Doctors in Odisha may once again launch a strike as the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) has expressed dissatisfaction over the state government’s alleged delay in fulfilling its commitments on various demands.
The association said the government has not taken any concrete decision on the issues raised by doctors despite assurances given by the health Minister and Health Secretary during previous agitation.
One of the major concerns is the transfer of doctors who have completed five years of service in the KBK region. OMSA said the state government has a policy allowing such doctors to seek transfers to places of their choice. Their preferred locations were collected through the transfer portal in January this year, but transfer orders have still not been issued even after eight months.
According to OMSA, the file related to the transfers has remained pending at the Health Minister’s level for nearly seven months. The association said doctors serving in difficult and remote areas should not have to seek favours, as implementing the government’s own policy is their legitimate right.
OMSA also said assurances given during its meeting with the Health Secretary in July have not been implemented. A secretary-level committee meeting was held on July 22 to discuss the association’s demands, but the required notifications are yet to be issued.
The association has urged the government to take decisions on all pending demands, including the transfer of KBK doctors, and issue the necessary notifications by the end of October.
Doctors had launched an agitation earlier this year over several demands and had observed a two-hour closure of outpatient department (OPD) services as a mark of protest. They later withdrew the agitation following assurances from the government.
However, alleging that the assurances were not fulfilled, doctors resumed their agitation in July. Following discussions at different levels, the protest was subsequently kept on hold.
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