Hundreds of doctors in government hospitals and medical facilities across Odisha boycotted outpatient (OPD) services for two hours from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday (January 5, 2026), demanding salaries based on the Central pay structure.
Patient care was affected, and the situation could worsen if the government fails to address our charter of demands, the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) has warned.
“Governments in nearly 20 states have started paying their doctors’ salaries in line with the Central pay structure. The Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme has also been implemented in several states. However, successive governments in Odisha, including the previous Naveen Patnaik government, used delaying tactics and avoided granting doctors the salary structure they are entitled to,” OMSA president Kishore Chandra Mishra said.
Disheartened doctors are leaving
“Disheartened by the low salary structure, government doctors are switching to the private sector, pushing the public health system towards a crisis. We have held talks with the Government five to six times, but it has become evident that there is no serious intent to address our demands,” Dr. Mishra added.
