Doctors extend statewide OPD strike to 2 hours

Bhubaneswar: To pressurise the govt, doctors at state-run hospitals across Odisha on Monday extended the OPD strike duration from 1 hour to 2 hours, seeking fulfilment of their demands, which includes pay parity and abolition of level 15 in the pay structure.

Patients are facing difficulties consulting doctors in OPDs due to the strike.The doctors, under the aegis of Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), started their 1-hour OPD strike on Dec 26. They continued the 1-hour OPD strike from 10 am to 11 am till Jan 4, and started a 2-hour OPD strike on Monday.As the OPDs were closed from 9 am to 11 am on Monday, patients waited for 2 additional hours to consult doctors about their health issues.

Many people expressed their displeasure over the OPD strike.“I reached the district headquarters hospital at around 9 am and got my ticket to consult a medicine specialist. When I reached the doctor’s room, he was not available. They were on strike. I had urgent work at 12.30 pm at home, 20 km from the hospital. When I came out of the hospital after consulting the doctor, it was already 12 o’clock. I could not reach home in time because of this,” said Satya Nayak from Bhandaripokhari in Bhadrak district.

Another patient, Jitu Senapati from Kendrapada, returned home as he could not wait at the district headquarters hospital, Kendrapada, on an empty stomach. “I request govt to resolve the matter immediately so that people do not face inconvenience. People with money can go to private hospitals and clinics, but poor people like me suffer,” he added.OMSA general secretary Sanjib Kumar Pradhan said they will extend the OPD strike from 2 hours to 4 hours if govt does not fulfil their demands by Jan 14.

“We hope govt will resolve the matter in time. We do not want to create inconvenience for patients, but we do not have any other way except this token protest,” he added.Health minister Mukesh Mahaling on Monday said govt is trying to resolve the matter. “We took their demands seriously. An inter-departmental committee was formed to review and analyse the demands of the doctors. We have already conducted a meeting on this issue,” he added.The minister said they instantly agreed to fulfil 2 demands. “First, we started a process to increase the stipend of doctors from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 for conducting a post-mortem. Secondly, we will increase PG incentives for dentists. I appeal to the doctors to call off the strike and serve the patients,” he added.