The indefinite cease-work called by Orissa Medical Service Association (OMSA) appeared to have evoked lukewarm response today with the authorities claiming near normal attendance of doctors and smooth functioning in various hospitals.
"Around 70 doctors have reported for duty today. Except 3-4 doctors, almost all of them are working," Gangadhar Rath, chief medical officer of the Capital Hospital, said adding that the strike called by OMSA had absolutely no impact on the functioning of the hospital.
However, he said a close watch was being maintained on the situation and adequate measures have been taken to deal with any eventuality.
Health services at government hospitals in most parts of the state were also reported to be normal with most doctors reporting for work, sources said.
All 27 doctors at Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) joined duty and its functioning was not affected due to the strike call, CMO of RGH Rajendra Patnaik said.
Similarly, there was little impact in other hospitals in Sundargarh including the district headquarter hospital with emergency and casualty functioning normally.
Though some doctors stayed away from duty, work remained unaffected, chief district medical officer of Sundargarh, Bikram Kindo said.
OMSA members began their cease work demanding improved promotion avenues under Dynamic Assured Career Progression(DACP).
Leaders of agitating OMSA, in the meantime, have gone underground fearing arrest as the state government warned of tough measures under provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to deal with the indefinite strike.
Health minister Prasanna Acharya said action would be taken against those doctors staying away from work.
As the OMSA refused to join talks on the demand, the government was also planning steps to de-register doctors to tackle the cease-work, official sources said.
The OMSA president Madhusudan Mishra, who had been transferred to a hospital in Sundargarh district, was yet to join there.
Doctors had refrained from a proposed strike last year after chief minister Naveen Patnaik assured them that a decision on DACP would be taken soon. "However, no progress has been made on this so far, forcing us to resort to strike," Mishra said.
The state government had wrote to Mishra not to go for a cease-work saying a committee was examining the aspects of implementation of DACP. However, the OMSA stuck to its stand.
The state government has claimed to have made elaborate arrangements to deal with the situation and cancelled leave of doctors and para-medical staff in district and other hospitals.
Besides contractual doctors, district collectors have been asked to keep close contact with all private health facilities and IMA bodies for their cooperation in case of necessity, official sources said.
