By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 17, 2019: Services at the outpatient departments (OPD) were affected in several hospitals in Odisha as doctors across the state resorted to ceasework on Monday in response to a nation-wide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), in support of their striking colleagues in West Bengal.

Junior doctors stayed away from the OPD and other non-essential health services in government medical colleges and hospitals at Berhampur, Sambalpur and Cuttack.

Doctors in many government hospitals, including those in Sambalpur and several other districts, staged “symbolic” protest demonstrations instead of resorting to strike, officials said.

Organisations, including the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), Odisha Medical Teachers Association OMTA), Junior Doctors Association, Resident Doctors Association, IMA Students Network and Nursing Home Association supported the strike, according to honorary state secretary of IMA’s Odisha unit, Janmejaya Mohapatra.

The Students Association of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has also decided to stay away from non-emergency services from 9 am to 5 pm during the day.

However, emergency services in the hospitals are not being affected during the strike, Mohapatra added.

Superintendent of MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur, Charan Panda, said, while junior doctors and students were boycotting work, steps were taken to ensure normal functioning of emergency and OPD services.

The state government has asked the medical colleges and hospitals to ensure that patient care services are not affected due to the stir, a senior official said.

Doctors have been requested to ensure that patient care services are not affected at any cost,” he said.