With the state government making it clear that it would not hold any talks till the strike is withdrawn, junior doctors, on Friday, decided to boycott the emergency services across the state from Friday evening.
According to Dr. G Aditya of the Junior Doctors' Association, "Junior doctors across the state have been forced to intensify their strike due to the non-responsive attitude of the government."
He said the junior doctors had resorted to a strike for genuine demands of theirs, and lamented that the state government was not willing to discuss them.
The junior doctors said that they would not withdraw the strike even if the government invokes the Essential Services Maintenance Act against them.
Meanwhile, Medical & Health Minister Kondru Murali Mohan said that the government was not afraid of the "threats" being issued by junior doctors.
He said the government would not hold talks until the junior doctors withdraw their strike. Describing the demands as "illegal", he suspected political motives behind the strike.
The minister also alleged that private hospitals were benefitting from the on-going strike. He said the government would make alternate arrangements to ensure that patients do not suffer due to the strike.
Kondru said that the government was proposing to increase the quota for Backward Classes in the MBBS seat. However, the decision was postponed due to the strike, he said. (INN)