Bhubaneswar, Sept 28: The nursing officers' strike in Odisha has severely disrupted healthcare services, especially in Bhubaneswar's Capital Hospital and SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. Patients and their families are facing immense difficulties due to the cease-work agitation initiated by the Odisha Nursing Employees’ Association (ONEA).

The strike, which began on Friday, is centered around a 10-point charter of demands. Key among these are the regularization of contractual workers and the removal of the outsourcing system.

With around 15,000 nurses from state-run medical colleges, district headquarters hospitals, and other medical facilities involved, the healthcare sector is under considerable strain. At Capital Hospital, one of Odisha’s leading medical institutions, the situation is dire. Out of 181 nurses, 131 are on strike, leaving only 50 to manage patient care. This shortage has forced the hospital to turn away patients, delay non-emergency surgeries, and limit admissions to emergency cases only.

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