OMSA warns of 1-hr OPD shutdown from December 26, full strike from January

The Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) intensified its protests on Tuesday after its long-pending demands remained allegedly unfulfilled despite assurances from the Chief Minister and Health Minister during the outfit’s annual conference last year.

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OMSA leaders expressed that although promises were made to address their concerns, no concrete steps have been taken even after a year.

Repeated meetings with the Health Minister have also failed to yield results. As a mark of protest, OMSA members have been working while wearing black badges since November 20. The association has now announced a phased agitation plan.

If their demands are not met, OMSA has warned that Outpatient Department (OPD) services will be suspended for one hour daily from December 26, between 10.00 AM and 11.00 AM. National health programmes will also remain suspended during this period.

The association has further cautioned that if the State government still does not respond, doctors will resort to a complete cease-work strike from January 2026.

OMSA has placed an 18-point charter of demands, including implementation of central pay scales, cadre restructuring, facilities for dental doctors, incentive enhancement, annual promotions, establishment of a new Capital Hospital, government quarters for doctors, insurance coverage, and stronger security arrangements for medical professionals.

“It is a matter of distress that no one has paid attention to our issues, neither the Chief Minister, nor the Health Minister, nor the Health Department. All our demands are reasonable and should have been fulfilled long ago,” OMSA president, Dr. Kishore Mishra, said in a presser.

“It is nearly a year and two months. In the meantime, we have discussed 4-5 times with the Health Minister and three times with the Health Secretary. However, our demands have not been met yet. Even, we have not got any written assurance,” OMSA general secretary, Dr. Sanjiv Pradhan, expressed to mediapersons.

Reported By: Simpul Nayak