The boycott of emergency duties by junior doctors continued to hit patients in government hospitals on Sunday. Though some senior doctors have been deployed, their strength is grossly inadequate to support emergency services. While around 40 deaths were reported from state-run hospitals on Sunday, with 15 deaths from Gandhi Hospital alone, the authorities say the deaths are “routine.”

The absence of more than 3,000 junior doctors state-wide is definitely being felt on the third day of the boycott. The junior doctors have decided to continue the boycott on Monday too. As the government and the doctors stick to their stands, patients are suffering. Kiran Kumar from Nalgonda who admitted his pregnant wife to Gandhi Hospital on Sunday said, “My wife had got complications and severe pain. Doctors at the emergency department did the initial checking and shifted her to the gynaecology department. But since the last few hours, no doctor has come to administer medicines. I’m worried about her and our child.”

Mohammad Arif, at the Osmania General Hospital complained, “My one-year-old son is running high temperature. Since I stay nearby, I brought him here and since the last one hour I have been running between the emergency and paediatric wards. I still haven’t found anyone to treat my son.” V. Anand from Cheriyala, who accompanied a patient, was told to take the patient away. “My nephew was admitted on Saturday with severe stomach pain. After he was shifted from casualty to the gastroenterology department, the senior doctor there was very rude to us. They were unwilling to admit him. They said ‘6 junior doctors are on strike. If anything happens, we won’t be responsible. It is better you take him back’.”

Relatives were seen bearing stretchers in several hospitals. “The new minister said that he won’t call us for talks till we end our stir. We haven't got written assurance for even a single demand yet,” Dr Avilash, the convener of the Joint Action Committee.