More than 900 Swasthya Mitras protested in Bhubaneswar after losing their jobs, urging the Odisha government to reinstate them promptly. Rupesh Rout, Vice President of the All Odisha Swasthya Mitra Association, expressed concern over the abrupt termination of their services by an outsourcing agency earlier this month. He emphasized their dedication to ensuring healthcare benefits reach the grassroots level and highlighted the lack of satisfactory answers from senior officials.
The Swasthya Mitras fear that if private hospitals appoint their own staff for health card management, transparency could be compromised, impacting the care of underprivileged patients. They are calling for dialogue with the government to address the situation and reinstate them. The protest, supported by opposition parties like Congress and Biju Janata Dal, will persist until a review of the decision and official assurance of continued employment is provided.
Swasthya Mitras are outsourced workers assisting beneficiaries of the state’s health insurance schemes. Initially designated as Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras in 2025, their roles were redefined following the integration of health insurance programs. Recently, they were informed that their contracts with a private agency would end on June 30, 2026, leading to their sudden job loss.
