The Government General Hospital (GGH) wore a deserted look on Monday due to the drastic fall in the number of patients visiting the hospital for treatment due to the ongoing strike of junior doctors.

In all, 538 outpatients visited the hospital for treatment on Monday. On Satu-rday, the figure was only 320 and on Sunday, attendance was less than 100.

The normal attendance in the GGH is between 1,700 and 2,000.

To render medical treatment and services to patients, the district administration drafted 70 senior doctors and post graduation students studying in private medical colleges and some doctors working in mandals.

About 10 patients were in the casualty on Monday. Senior doctors and PG students treated patients.

Dr Satish, resident medical officer said, “The hospital is equipped with medical teams to cater to the needs of patients.”

The junior doctors’ strike entered its 40th day on Monday in Vijayawada. As usual, junior doctors boycotted both regular and emergency services. They protested with helmets in front of the casualty ward on Monday against the stubborn attitude of government and some remarks made by senior IAS officer Mr Ratna Kishore on junior doctors.

The Junior Doctors Asso-ciation district secretary, Dr Hari Kiran, said that junior doctors were ready to call off the strike if government increases the sti-pend to Rs.25,000 per month and provide amenities and equipment in rural hospitals so that doctors can work with all amenities.

He said that it was incorrect that government was paying the highest stipend to junior doctors in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Hari Kiran said that the Kerala government was paying Rs.25,000, Karnataka Rs.30,000 and Delhi government, Rs.55,000 per month while the AP government was paying only Rs.18,000 per month to junior doctors.