Bhubaneswar: Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) has given the govt one month’s ultimatum to address their six-point charter of demands, with time-bound promotion taking centre stage. The announcement comes following a governing body meeting held in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Dr Sanjib Kumar Pradhan, OMSA general secretary, emphasised that timely promotions are crucial for maintaining the morale of the medical fraternity. “Persistent delays in promotions and implementation of dynamic assured career progression (DACP) created widespread demotivation among doctors, potentially affecting healthcare delivery across the state,” Pradhan said.
The association also raised serious concerns about the acute shortage of medical professionals, particularly in rural and remote areas. OMSA is pushing for immediate recruitment drives to address this critical gap in healthcare services. “Govt deputes medical officers from peripheral hospitals to medical colleges and do not fill the vacant posts in the peripheral hospitals. It is creating problems in govt hospitals in rural areas. Govt should stop deputing medical officers of peripheral hospitals to medical colleges and recruit doctors for medical colleges,” said Dr Pradhan.
Health secretary Aswathy S could not be contacted for a comment.
Dr Kishore Chandra Misra, OMSA president, stressed on the importance of retaining existing medical staff through improved incentives and working conditions to make government service more appealing. A major point of contention is the current transfer policy, which OMSA claims lacks transparency. The association highlighted grievances regarding postings in the Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput (KBK) region. “Medical officers completing their mandatory KBK postings face significant delay in transfers, while the govt failed to rotate doctors from non-KBK areas into these regions. This situation is compounded by the lack of promotions or financial upgradation,” Dr Misra explained.
The association has called for immediate dialogue with state authorities to resolve these pressing issues. “We remain hopeful that the govt will recognise the urgency of our demands and initiate constructive discussions within the stipulated timeframe,” Dr Misra added.