Odisha Doctors’ Strike Enters fourth Day, OPD Services Hit Across Government Hospitals
Public healthcare services across Odisha remained severely disrupted on July 4, 2026, as the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) entered the fourth day of its indefinite strike , affecting OPD services, emergency care in several districts, medico-legal work, and post-mortem examinations. The agitation, which began on July 1 (National Doctors’ Day), stems from the government’s failure to implement a long-pending 10-point charter of demands, including Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) in line with Central Government norms, cadre restructuring, enhanced specialist incentives, comprehensive health insurance, revision of the Odisha Medicare Act, and regularisation of ad-hoc doctors. Despite repeated assurances over the past two years, doctors allege that little concrete progress has been made, prompting the statewide work boycott.
The strike has exposed the dependence of Odisha’s public health system on government doctors. Government hospitals across multiple districts witnessed deserted OPDs, overcrowded waiting areas, and an increasing number of patients being diverted to private hospitals or tertiary care centres. The state government has appealed to doctors to withdraw the strike and return to negotiations, maintaining that uninterrupted patient care remains its top priority. Health Director Mohan Panda stated that the situation is being monitored closely and warned that action may be initiated under government service rules against those continuing the agitation.
Patients Face Long Queues, Delayed Care and Stalled Medico-Legal Services
The consequences of the strike are being felt far beyond OPD closures. Across Odisha, elderly patients, individuals travelling long distances, and economically weaker families have reported significant hardship as routine consultations remain unavailable. In districts including Puri, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Kendujhar, OPD services have either been suspended or temporarily managed by AYUSH and contractual doctors, while emergency referrals are being shifted to higher centres wherever possible.
The disruption has also affected essential medico-legal services. Families awaiting post-mortem examinations have reportedly faced prolonged delays, leaving bodies unclaimed in hospital mortuaries for extended periods. Reports from Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Ganjam indicate that multiple autopsies could not be performed because striking doctors were unavailable, further delaying legal procedures and funeral rites. Simultaneously, major referral institutions including SCB Medical College, Cuttack, and AIIMS Bhubaneswar have experienced a sharp rise in patient load, resulting in long waiting times despite junior doctors continuing clinical duties while wearing black badges in solidarity.
Government Appeals for Talks, Doctors Warn Protest May Intensify
OMSA leaders argue that the current agitation is not merely about salaries but about systemic reforms aimed at retaining specialists within Odisha’s public health system. Their demands include implementation of DACP, restructuring of medical cadres, additional incentives for super-specialists and diploma holders, post-mortem allowances, a three-year exit policy for difficult-service areas, improved workplace security through amendments to the Odisha Medicare Act, and universal health insurance coverage for healthcare workers. Association representatives maintain that these promises have remained unfulfilled despite prolonged dialogue with successive administrations.
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The Odisha government has reiterated its willingness to hold constructive discussions but insists that negotiations should occur only after doctors resume work. Invoking the principle that Service is the Supreme Religion, the administration appealed to striking doctors to prioritise patient welfare while assuring them that their grievances would receive due consideration. However, OMSA has indicated that unless meaningful commitments emerge, the agitation may intensify further. The ongoing confrontation highlights a recurring challenge in Indian public healthcare, balancing uninterrupted patient services with legitimate demands from a workforce that continues to shoulder increasing clinical responsibilities amid workforce shortages and administrative delays.
