The Home department, in an official order on Wednesday, said strikes in the form of cessation of work by the nurses, paramedics, technicians, Class III and IV employees in the government hospitals and dispensaries are prohibited Whereas in the interest of public.

The health facilities include District Head Quarters Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, Area Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Municipality Hospitals, ESI Hospitals, Medical Colleges and Hospitals and other autonomous health institutions receiving grant-in-aid from the government.

“In exercise of the power conferred by Section III of the Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Act 1988 (Odisha Act 9 of 1992), the state government prohibits strikes in these services. The ban will remain in force for six months,” the order said.