Health services at outpatient departments (OPDs) in several Government and private hospitals were paralysed in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, as the doctors stayed away from attending OPD services. The agitation was in response to the nationwide strike call given by the apex medical body IMA in support of the agitating medicos in West Bengal, leaving patients in the lurch in the state.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has given a 24- hour strike call (from 6 am Monday to 6 am Tuesday) with the withdrawal of non-essential health services across the country in support of the striking junior doctors in West Bengal.

United Doctors Forums Redressal Committee chairman Dr JP Paliwal said that nearly 3,000-3,500 doctors took part in a protest march taken out from the government-run Gandhi Medical College (GMC) to divisional commissioner office in Bhopal in support of the agitating medicos in West Bengal.

"We have submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief minister on the issue, he said, adding, “Our OPD services remained non-functional during the day-long protest, but emergency services continued as usual, he said.

Paliwal said the strike affected non-essential health services in the entire state.

"A large number of doctors, including those from AIIMS Bhopal, took part in the protest march. In the memorandum, we have demanded the enactment of a central law for protection of doctors and its implementation in true spirit, Junior Doctor Association president Sachet Saxena said.

We have strongly condemned the violence against doctors in West Bengal and demanded that they be given protection and all their demands be fulfilled, Saxena said. IMA Indore unit president Dr Shekhar Rao said nearly 2,100 doctors boycotted from their work and their agitation will continue till 6 AM Tuesday. Rao further said there is a Doctors Protection Act in Madhya Pradesh, but the police have no knowledge about it and therefore it is not being followed.