Doctors intensify protest in Odisha; OPD services suspended for two hours across state

The Outpatient Department (OPD) services at government medical colleges and hospitals across Odisha were suspended for two hours on Monday, from 9 am to 11 am, as doctors intensified their ongoing agitation over long-pending demands, including the urgent filling up of vacant doctor posts in the state.

The protest is being led by the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), which had earlier observed a one-hour OPD shutdown. However, citing an inadequate response from the government, the association decided to extend the suspension to two hours. During the protest period, doctors refrained from attending patients in OPDs, while emergency services continued uninterrupted.

Demand for Filling Vacant Posts

OMSA has demanded immediate steps to fill vacant sanctioned posts, pointing to the excessive workload faced by existing doctors due to staff shortages. The association warned that if the government fails to take concrete action on its demands by January 14, OPD services may be suspended for two hours each during both morning and afternoon sessions in the coming days.

A doctor participating in the protest said, “When the OMSA president and secretary had earlier apprised the government of our issues, due attention should have been given, and solutions worked out. As our demands were not addressed, we were left with no option but to intensify the agitation.”

Government Response 

In response to the protest, the state government has constituted an inter-departmental committee to examine the demands raised by the doctors. The committee is expected to hold discussions with stakeholders shortly and submit its report to the government.

Emergency Services Continue

Doctors clarified that emergency services were kept operational to ensure that critical patients were not affected by the protest.

A doctor at Cuttack’s City Hospital said, “We do not want people to suffer, which is why emergency services are continuing. Many patients have expressed support, understanding the workload caused by staff shortages.”

Another doctor added, “The peak patient rush is between 8 am and 12 noon. We will attend to all patients after 11 am. This protest is intended to highlight our demands, not to inconvenience patients.”

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Patients waiting at hospitals said they were informed about the protest and assured that consultations would resume after 11 am.