Odisha Govt Forms High-Level Inter-Departmental Committee To Address OMSA Doctors’ Demands

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Bhubaneswar: In a major move to resolve the long-standing issues of government doctors, the Odisha government has formed a high-level inter-departmental committee to examine the demands of the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA).

A notification regarding this was issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department on Tuesday.

The committee will be chaired by the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department. Other members include:  Principal Secretary, General Administration & Public Grievances Department  Principal Secretary, Law Department  Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department

The committee will review OMSA’s 10-point charter of demands and submit its recommendations to the government.

The development comes three days after a successful discussion between Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling and OMSA leaders on July 4.

Following the assurance, OMSA had put its indefinite agitation on hold.

OMSA had launched the agitation from July 1 after earlier government promises remained unfulfilled. The association represents more than 6,000 government doctors in the state. The protest escalated in phases — from wearing black badges and boycotting OPD services to a complete work stoppage.

While emergency and indoor services continued, OPD services were severely affected. The government had earlier invoked ESMA during the stir.

Key Demands of OMSA

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OMSA has been demanding systemic reforms in the health services, including:

Career progression: Implementation of Dynamic Assured Career Progression from the date of eligibility as per Central pay structure, and removal of Level-15 from the pay matrix to bring doctors at par with other Class-1 officers

Additional incentives for super-specialists, specialists, diploma holders and medical administrators, along with post-mortem allowance

3-year exit policy for doctors serving in KBK and TSP tribal-dominated areas

Armed security and police outposts in hospitals, health insurance, transparent transfer policy, and regularization of ad-hoc doctors

Hike in remuneration for dental doctors and other service-related reforms

OMSA President Dr. Kishore Chandra Mishra and General Secretary Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Pradhan said the formation of the committee reflects the government’s positive approach. The government is now expected to take a final call based on the committee’s recommendations.

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