Overview
- The Home Department order bans any cessation of work across government hospitals, medical colleges and grant-in-aid institutions for six months effective January 6.
- The prohibition applies to doctors, nursing officers, pharmacy staff, paramedics, technicians and Class III and IV employees, including contractual workers.
- Government doctors have halted OPD services daily since December 26—now two hours from 9 am to 11 am—while emergency care, inpatient services and surgeries continue.
- The state set up an inter-departmental panel and urged a return to duties, but the Odisha Medical Service Association rejected the offer and sought written assurances.
- OMSA’s 10-point charter cites pay parity with central scales, cadre restructuring, incentives and allowances, an exit policy for hard-to-serve zones, and claims over 50% doctor posts lie vacant.