Odisha Health Minister Invites Doctors' Association For Talks Amid Continuing Impasse

According to the health and family welfare department, the meeting is scheduled for 11:30 am on Saturday at the Minister's office. A formal communication has been sent to the OMSA president and general secretary, urging the association to participate in the discussions and restore normal healthcare services.

“The health & family welfare minister has been pleased to hold discussions on the various demands of the Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) with its state executive members on July 4 at 11.30 a.m. It is requested that the association attend the meeting and restore normal healthcare services,” the department said in its letter.

The invitation comes amid an ongoing standoff between the state government and OMSA, whose members have been protesting over a series of demands, disrupting healthcare services in several government hospitals across the state.

Earlier on Friday, OMSA president Dr Kishore Mishra said the association remained open to dialogue and was prepared to engage with the government at any time to resolve the dispute. However, he alleged that the government had delayed meaningful negotiations and instead resorted to issuing threats against protesting doctors.

Dr Mishra also warned that the state government would be responsible for any adverse consequences, including patient deaths allegedly resulting from disruptions in healthcare services during the agitation.

The proposed meeting is expected to be the first formal round of negotiations between the two sides since the agitation intensified. The outcome of the discussions is likely to determine whether the ongoing protest is called off and normal medical services resume across Odisha.