BHUBANESWAR: Doctors under Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) suspended their ongoing strike on Saturday following the state government’s announcement of forming a high-power committee to look into their demands.
After a marathon meeting with OMSA representatives, Health and Family Welfare minister Mukesh Mahaling said the discussions were fruitful. Detailed discussion was held on OMSA’s 10-point charter of demands.
“A high-power committee headed by the Finance secretary has been formed to study the demands and suggest measures for their implementation in phases,” the minister said.
The members of the panel include additional chief secretary, General Administration department, Health secretary and Law secretary. The first meeting will be held on July 22. During the meeting, OMSA representatives will make a detailed presentation on their demands, Mahaling said.
OMSA president Dr Kishore Chandra Misra also reiterated that discussions were fruitful. “We will present our demands before the committee and hope that our key demands will be resolved. The minister and the Health secretary have also assured us that several issues related to doctors’ working conditions will be addressed at the earliest,” he said.
Dr Misra also confirmed that the association decided to put the strike on hold and that doctors have joined their duty immediately after the decision was communicated. OMSA, however, clarified that the agitation has only been put on hold and not withdrawn.
The doctors had launched the statewide agitation on Wednesday, which continued until Saturday afternoon, affecting healthcare services at government hospitals and health institutions.
Their demands include implementation of the dynamic assured career progression (DACP) scheme in line with the central pay structure from the date of eligibility, proportionate cadre restructuring, enhanced incentives for super-specialists, specialists, diploma holders and administrators, postmortem allowance, implementation of the three-year exit policy for doctors serving in KBK and TSP areas and strengthening safety and security measures, including revision of the Odisha Medicare Act.