As many as 2,000 private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and pathology laboratories across the State on Friday downed their shutters in support of a 24-hour strike call given by the All Odisha Private Medical Establishment Forum (AOPMEF)
The strike hit health services and put the patients in great inconveniences. Heavy rush was witnessed in the Government hospitals.
The AOPMEF has been demanding amendments to provisions in the Odisha Clinical Establishments Act, especially the one that requires the establishments to adhere to fire safety norms.
Bike rallies were organised at Cuttack and Bhadrak where protestors carrying placards and banners shouted slogans demanding changes in the Act. A similar rally was also organised at the Master Canteen in Bhubaneswar.
During the strike, private hospitals closed the outdoor departments and denied admitting new patients. However, the treatment of existing patients continued.
The Health Department took measures to tackle the extra flow of patients to Government health centres and ensure that services are not hampered. leaves of all the doctors and workers were cancelled and more paramedical staffs and doctors were engaged in the casualty, trauma care and women and maternal care departments.
“All the doctors have been asked to be on duty in casualty, trauma care, and labour room as load in these departments could remain higher,” said SCB Hospital Emergency Officer Bhubanananda Maharana said. The AOPMEF alleged that registration and renewal of licences have become difficult for private healthcare facility providers under the Odisha Clinical Establishments Act.