Odisha Invokes ESMA to Ban Doctors’ Strikes for Six Months
Bhubaneswar, Jan 6: The Odisha government has moved to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services by invoking the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988 (ESMA).
The order prohibits strikes and cessation of work by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, technicians, Class-III and Class-IV employees, and contractual staff across all government and grant-in-aid health institutions for six months, effective immediately.
The directive, issued by the Home (Special Section) Department, applies to District Headquarters Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, Area Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, municipal hospitals, medical colleges, autonomous institutions such as the Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHRCC) and Regional Spinal Injury Centre, as well as jail and police hospitals.
Officials emphasised that the measure was taken “in the interest of the public” to prevent disruption of healthcare delivery amid growing tensions with medical associations over demands related to working conditions, pay, and infrastructure.
The notification has been circulated to the Health & Family Welfare Department, police authorities, district magistrates, and other officials for strict enforcement.
The move comes as medical associations had signalled possible work stoppages, raising concerns about patient care.
With ESMA now in place, any strike or cessation of work in the healthcare sector will be deemed unlawful during the six-month period.
