Outpatient Department (OPD) services at government hospitals across Odisha were partially disrupted on Thursday as doctors launched a one-hour daily boycott to press for the fulfilment of their long-pending demands.
The agitation, led by the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), began with doctors abstaining from OPD duties from 10 am to 11 am. OMSA has announced that this one-hour boycott will continue every day as part of a phased protest.
Emergency services, indoor patient care, and surgical procedures have been kept outside the purview of the agitation, ensuring that critical healthcare services remain unaffected.
Threat of Statewide Strike From January 1
OMSA leaders said the current protest marks the first phase of a broader agitation plan. If the state government does not address their demands by the end of December, the association has warned of a complete statewide strike from January 1, 2026, followed by mass resignations if necessary.
OMSA General Secretary Sanjib Kumar Pradhan said doctors have been waiting for more than a decade for their demands to be addressed despite repeated assurances.
“Doctors have shown patience for years. Despite commitments from the Chief Minister and Health Minister, there has been no concrete progress. We are left with no option but to intensify the protest,” Pradhan said.
Key Demands of Doctors
The agitation is based on a 13-point charter of demands, which includes:
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Implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) without preconditions, in line with central government norms already adopted by 18 states
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Salary parity with central government doctors, including revised Dearness Allowance (DA)
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A transparent transfer policy, especially for doctors serving 5–10 years in hardship areas such as the KBK (Kalahandi–Balangir–Koraput) region
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Regular recruitment to address acute staff shortages, with only around 8,000 doctors currently working against 15,776 sanctioned posts
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Health insurance and enhanced security for healthcare professionals
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Cadre restructuring, timely promotions, and rationalisation of certain NHM-related responsibilities
Patients Face Inconvenience
Reports from major healthcare facilities, including Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and district headquarters hospitals, indicated longer waiting times during the boycott hour. Several patients reported being asked to return later, leading to inconvenience, particularly during peak morning OPD hours.
While emergency services continued smoothly, the protest has drawn attention to the existing strain on Odisha’s public healthcare system, which is already dealing with doctor shortages and increasing patient load.
Government Yet to Respond
As of Thursday evening, the Odisha Health Department had not issued an official statement on the boycott. OMSA leaders claimed that multiple rounds of discussions in the past have failed to produce tangible outcomes.
The protest has gained momentum over the past two months, with OMSA reiterating concerns raised in earlier agitations regarding delayed promotions, inadequate incentives, and lack of career progression.
Patient rights groups have urged both the government and the doctors’ association to resolve the issue swiftly to avoid further disruption, particularly in rural and tribal areas where government hospitals remain the primary source of healthcare.
As the agitation enters its second day on Friday, attention is now focused on whether the state government will initiate fresh negotiations before the proposed statewide strike in January.
