Odisha doctors call of strike after government assurances

Odisha Health Services Association (OMSA), Odisha’s largest government doctors’ association, has called off the strike launched on Saturday, July 4, 2026, demanding better service conditions and workplace safety, following assurances from the Mohan Majhi Government.

“We met Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling and had a very constructive discussion. The government assured us to form a committee within three days to deliberate on all our 10 demands,” OMSA general secretary Sanjib Kumar Pradhan said.

Dr. “OMSA will make detailed presentations on each request before the committee and explain why it is necessary,” Pradhan said. The government said dentists’ fees would be increased immediately and other demands would be met within a certain period of time.

OMSA has sought Dynamic Assured Career Advancement as per central pay structure, from the date of eligibility, with correction of pay structure of the cadre and removal of Level 15, in line with other Class I officers under Odisha government, without any prerequisites.

Implementation of a three-year exit policy in backward and tribal areas, construction of Capital Hospital II, Odisha Medical and Health Services (OMHS) cadres solely for the benefit of the public as per expansion of Bhubaneswar were among the most important demands.

Other demands include proportionate restructuring of cadres at all levels, increased incentive for super specialists and specialists, allowance for diploma, administrators and post-mortems, regular annual Odisha Public Service Commission, revised and strict implementation of Odisha Medicare Act with non-bailable arrest warrant against criminals, deployment of armed security personnel and police station in all health institutions and regularization of temporary doctors.

Health services across the state were disrupted due to the doctors’ strike. Almost all hospitals in Odisha were affected and hundreds of people queued up to avail the services. Even autopsies of the dead could not be performed in the absence of doctors.