Bhubaneswar: Health services were hit in several districts of Orissa on Sunday after government doctors began an indefinite strike demanding implementation of a scheme that ensures time-bound promotions.
The Orissa Medical Services Association (OMSA) went ahead with the strike even as the state government Saturday threatened to impose the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and cancel the registration of government doctors if they ceased work from Sunday.
The doctors are demanding implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme for time-bound promotions.
The state government also called the doctors for talks Saturday evening but the representatives of the association did not turn up for the meeting, a government official told IANS.
Meanwhile, medical services have been hit in Mayurbhanj, Bolangir, Balasore, Sonepur, Dhenkanal and Rayagada districts.
In Keonjhar district, a patient named Kalicharan Nayak died allegedly after remaining unattended for several hours, reports reaching here said.
The state government has made contingency plans and deployed additional doctors from private sector, besides cancelling leave of many doctors. It has also sought the services of ayurvedic doctors and pharmacists to ensure that the patients do not remain unattended.
Health services in the state capital, however, continued normally though some of the doctors did not turn up for work.
The strike call was announced after the state government transferred 159 doctors, including the office bearers of OMSA. The association deems it as a 'punitive measure' to scuttle their demand.
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