Orissa govt invokes ESMA to curb doctors' strike

Bhubaneswar, Nov 7 (UNI) The Orissa government today invoked the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prohibit the 'cease work' strike called by the government doctors under the banner of the Orissa Medical Service Association(OMSA) from November nine.

Official sources said the ESMA was invoked in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section 1 of Section 3 read with section 2 of the Orissa Essential Service (Maintenance) Act 1988 and would be in force for next six months in a bid to prevent the disruption of healthcare delivery system in the state.

Over 2500 doctors had submitted their resignation en masse to the government on last Monday and decided to cease work from November nine if their six-point charter of demands was not met.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Sanatan Bisi told newspersons after a meeting with the representatives of the OMSA that the doctors had agreed to join work on Monday and would not cease work.

The demands of the doctors would be resolved through mutual discussions in due course of time, he added.

However, OMSA president Madhusudan Mishra said the government had allayed their misgivings and doubts during the discussion and put forth some points.

He said a decision on the proposed ceasework from November nine would be taken after the points raised during the meeting were placed before the Central Executive Committee meeting of the OMSA, slated for here tomorrow.

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