Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, April 18 (IANS) Government doctors in Orissa withdrew their strike Sunday after a day’s protest to press their demand for the implementation of a scheme that ensures time-bound promotions.
The move came after talks between the representatives of Orissa Medical Services Association (OMSA) and the state government concluded here.

Earlier in the day, the doctors went on a strike to secure implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for time-bound promotions.

“We called off the strike keeping in mind the interests of patients,” said OMSA president Madhusudan Mishra.

Reports reaching here said that in Keonjhar district, a patient named Kalicharan Nayak died allegedly after remaining unattended for several hours.

The state government Sunday threatened to initiate punitive measures against the doctors if they did not withdraw their stir. On Saturday, it had threatened to impose the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and cancel their registration.

“We are happy that we managed to draw Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s attention and are hopeful that he would ensure that the DACP is implemented,” Mishra said.

Medical services were partially hit in the state even as the state government made contingency plans and deployed additional doctors from private sector, besides cancelling the leave of many doctors. The state government had also requisitioned the services of ayurvedic doctors and pharmacists.

The strike was called after the state government transferred 159 doctors, including the office bearers of the OMSA. The association deemed it as a punitive measure to scuttle their demands.