Sambalpur, Feb. 5: State health secretary Arti Ahuja today held a meeting with representatives of the Junior Doctors' Association of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar) to discuss their demands.

The medics have been demanding installation of a magnetic resonance imaging machine, delegation of financial and administrative powers to Vimsar, shifting of female medicine ward to a new building, strengthening of security on the medical college campus, round-the-clock water and electricity supply at the operation theatre, a labour room, a sick newborn care unit, an intensive care unit, a new medicine ward, a canteen, hostels, an increase in library fund, recruitment of employees for the library, filling up of the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts and improvement in the sanitary condition of the institute.

The association had threatened to cease work from February 10 if their 10 demands were not met by February 9.

The association had launched a 10-day cease work between January 12 and 21 to push for their demands, paralysing health care services in the district. They suspended the agitation after a meeting with health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak in Bhubaneswar on January 20.

At a meeting on February 1, the association had expressed its dissatisfaction over the state government's lack of movement regarding their demands. They also urged the health minister to visit Vimsar by February 9.

Ahuja visited different departments of the institute and interacted with patients. She held discussions with all the department heads in the presence of institute director Sonamali Bag, principal B.K. Dutta and superintendent L.K. Dash.

She said the institute was a referral hospital. But, the health secretary also stressed on the need to strengthen the infrastructure, adding that the government was looking forward to taking steps to fulfil the association's demands.