Uttar Pradesh government has invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ban strikes in all the medical institutions of the state for the next six months, officials said.

“Keeping in mind the difficulties faced by patients due to the strikes by junior doctors and employees, the government has banned strikes in all medical institutions/ colleges by invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA),” an official spokesman said in Lucknow on Thursday.

Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science (SGPGIMS), Chhatrpati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University and all medical colleges will be covered in the order, he said.