Doctors Defy ESMA, Continue Two-Hour OPD Boycott Across Odisha

ପାଣିପାଗ

ବର୍ଷା ଋତୁରେ କୁହୁଡ଼ି! ଘନ କୁହୁଡ଼ିରେ ଢାଙ୍କିହେଲା ବଣାଇ, ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ...

September 05, 2026

ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ବର୍ଷାର ତାଣ୍ଡବ ଜାରି: କେନ୍ଦୁଝର ଓ ସୁନ୍ଦରଗଡ଼କୁ ରେଡ୍...

September 01, 2026

୬ ଜିଲ୍ଲାରେ ଅତିପ୍ରବଳ ବର୍ଷା! ବର୍ଷାରେ ଭିଜୁଛି ଓଡ଼ିଶା, ୨୪...

September 01, 2026

ତିବ୍ବତର ବନ୍ୟାର ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦୃଶ୍ୟ ଚୀନ୍‌ରେ ଦେଖାଯାଉନି; ମୃତାହତଙ୍କ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ...

August 29, 2026

ଶିକ୍ଷା

OTET 2026 ଫଳାଫଳ ପ୍ରକାଶ: ୬୪.୪୮% ପ୍ରାର୍ଥୀ ପାସ୍, ୫୩,୩୧୪...

September 02, 2026

ଓଡ଼ିଶା PG ନାମଲେଖା: ଫାଇନାଲ୍ ଫେଜ୍-Iରେ ୯,୦୩୪ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀ ମନୋନୀତ

August 19, 2026

ଶିକ୍ଷକ ନିଯୁକ୍ତି ଦାବିରେ ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର ରାଜରାସ୍ତାରେ ଆଶାୟୀ, ଖାଲି ପଦବୀ...

August 17, 2026

ଭୀଷଣ ବର୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜରେ ଆଜି ସମସ୍ତ ସ୍କୁଲ୍ ବନ୍ଦ,...

August 13, 2026

Doctors Defy ESMA, Continue Two-Hour OPD Boycott Across Odisha

Despite the Odisha government invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prohibit strikes, doctors across the state continued their protest on Wednesday by suspending OPD services for two hours, causing significant inconvenience to patients and disrupting routine healthcare.

Published by Dibyajyoti | January 07, 2026

Despite the Odisha government invoking the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988 (ESMA) to ban the ongoing strike, doctors across the state continued their agitation on Wednesday, suspending Outpatient Department (OPD) services for two hours. The protest, held from 9 am to 11 am, severely affected patient care in government hospitals and health centres statewide.

The Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) enforced the statewide OPD shutdown as part of its ongoing movement demanding fulfilment of a 10-point charter of demands. The decision to proceed with the agitation, despite the ESMA clampdown, has highlighted the growing standoff between the doctors’ association and the state government.

The two-hour suspension of OPD services caused substantial inconvenience to patients, particularly those from rural and remote areas who rely heavily on government facilities for daily consultations and follow-up treatment.

The state government had invoked ESMA on Tuesday, making it illegal for doctors to disrupt essential services, including emergency medical care. Under the Act, any strike that hampers essential healthcare delivery is prohibited. However, OMSA leaders have said the protest will continue until their demands are addressed.

While emergency services remain functional, the continued disruption of routine OPD services has drawn criticism for impacting patient care. The association has maintained its firm stand, reiterating that the agitation will not be withdrawn despite government restrictions.

The deadlock between the Odisha government and OMSA shows no sign of resolution yet, leaving patients to bear the brunt of the prolonged protest.