Berhampur: The long-standing demand of Odisha Medical Service Association (OMSA), the organization of doctors working in the peripheral hospitals, for implementation of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) scheme has been fulfilled with chief minister Naveen Patnaik giving his approval on Wednesday, OMSA officials said.As per the new provisions, Odisha Medical and Health Service (OMHS) cadre officers will get three assured promotions after 7, 14 and 21 years of continuous service from their entry level. OMSA, which was demanding four assured promotions after 4, 9, 13 and 20 years of service on a par with the central government rules, has accepted the state government decision.“We agree with the state government decision,” OMSA president Nirakar Bhatt said here on Thursday. Led by Bhatt, association officials met with chief minister at the state secretariat on Wednesday evening and thanked him for bringing changes to the service rules.“Around 2000 of the total 3600 doctors in the state would benefit under the new DACP scheme,” Bhatt said.The central government implemented DACP in 2008. Since then at least 15 state governments have implemented it in subsequent years. Bhatt said the scheme would enable government doctors get promotion and allowances in due time. It also helps to arrest the exits of doctors from government service and to make it more attractive for young doctors to join the service when vacancies arise.The OMSA president has also urged the government to conduct the departmental promotion committee (DPC) meeting soon to fill up all vacant posts in the department, including that of additional director level-1, selection grade (AD-II), joint director and group-1. He said several senior doctors in different posts are on the verge of retirement. They would be deprived of getting their due promotion unless the DPC is conducted, Bhatt said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Bhubaneswar headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.