Raipur, June 22 (IANS) Patient care services at the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Government Hospital, Chhattisgarh’s biggest hospital, remained crippled here Sunday as a strike by about 300 junior doctors entered the second day. Dozens of patients admitted to the emergency ward as well as the casualty ward needed urgent medical attention but no doctor was available for surgeries and ward nurses tried to provide temporary relief to them.

Several senior doctors too have gone on leave to avoid patients’ rush due to the junior doctors’ strike.

The 700-bed hospital treats on an average about 400 new patients a day.

Narendra Narsing, chief of the striking Junior Doctors’ Association, told reporters Sunday that their indefinite strike would be called off only if their several monetary demands, including for a hike in the stipend, were accepted by the state government.