Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7 -- Even though the Odisha government invoked the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1988 (ESMA) to ban the strike by the doctors, the medical staff across the State continued their protest on Wednesday by suspending Outpatient Department (OPD) services for two hours, severely impacting patient care across the state.

Despite the ESMA clampdown imposed in the interest of public welfare, the Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA) went ahead with its scheduled agitation, enforcing a statewide OPD shutdown from 9 am to 11 am. The protest is part of the doctors' ongoing movement pressing for the fulfilment of their 10-point charter of demands.

The continued suspension of OPD services has caused significant in...