Sambalpur, Jan. 4: The Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) of the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) today threatened to launch a cease-work from January 12.

The demands include installation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the health centre, delegation of financial and administrative powers to the VIMSAR authority, shifting of female medicine ward to the new building, strengthening the security on the premises of the institution, round the clock water and electricity supply to the operation theatre, labour room, ICU, medicine wards and the hostels of the institution, increase in library funds and library staff members for better teaching facilities, filling up of vacant teaching and non-teaching posts of the institution, make the regional diagnostic centre functional round the clock, establishment of a good canteen for doctors and staff members and improve the sanitary condition at the health centre.

The JDA had also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Naveen Patnaik and health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak through the director of Vimsar in this regard.

The junior doctors met Sonamali Bag, the director of Vimsar, and discussed with him about the issues.

"The institute caters to the health requirements of the people of western Odisha. Many patients from the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand also come here for treatment. The health centre has been declared as an autonomous institution and the name of the centre was also changed from Veer Surendra Sai Medical College Hospital to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. However, the government only changed the name, but there was no improvement in infrastructure," said the president of Junior Doctors' Association, Shankar Ramchandani.

"If our demands are not met by January 11, we will resort to cease-work from January 12. The undergraduate students and House Surgeons' Association of the institute have also agreed to support us," Ramchandani said.

Bag said: "The demand of the students are genuine. Steps are being taken to meet their demands. However, it will take some more time." He also said the authorities would discuss all the pending issues with the junior doctors.