Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has once again appealed to the agitating doctors to call off their strike and return to duty.

The doctors, affiliated to Odisha Medical Services Association (OMSA), had launched an indefinite strike on July 1 to press for their 10-point charter of demands.

Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has invited the OMSA for a discussion with regard to its demands on July 4 (Saturday).

The Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Department of the state government sent a letter in this regard to the OMSA today.

The department has urged the State Executives of OMSA to attend the meeting, scheduled to be held in the office chamber of the Health Minister at 11.30 am tomorrow.

“The Health Minister has been pleased to have discussion on different demands of Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA) with its State Executives at 11.30 am on July 4,” read the letter.

It is worth mentioning here that the doctors associated with the OMSA had launched their agitation seeking fulfilment of their demands including cadre restructuring, dynamic assured career progression, special incentives and place-based incentives.

The OMSA agitation has crippled healthcare services in hospitals across Odisha, including the Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs).