Services in government hospitals all over Karnataka were affected on Wednesday, with over 4,000 doctors working in the Health and Family Welfare Department intensifying their stir on the third day to press their charter of demands.
"Our strike is total on Wednesday with doctors all over the state including those working in district and taluk hospitals abstaining from performing emergency, post mortem and even OPD (Out Patient Department) services", Dr Ravi Shankar, Secretary of Karnataka Medical Officers' Association told PTI.
"We are expecting the government to come forward and respond to our demands which includes pay hike on par with our counterparts in Medical Education. However, so far we have not received any intimation", he said.
The Association's talks with Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Madangopal on Tuesday on their three demands failed.
Besides the increase in salaries, the Association is also demanding regularisation of contractual doctors and passing of an ordinance on the lines of the one in Andhra Pradesh, which makes "any assault of the doctors, a non bailable offence", Ravishankar said.