Cuttack, Sept. 15: Services were affected at SCB Medical College and Hospital following the decision of junior doctors and students to launch an indefinite strike supporting the demands of students of Veer Surendra Sai (VSS) Medical College and Hospital in Burla.

The VSS Medical College and Hospital was closed indefinitely on September 7 following a clash between a group of students and local people. Apart from demanding action against those, who were involved in the assault of a student, the agitating students want proper security and an independent campus for the college. They also want removal of vendors from the college campus.

Services at SCB hospital would be affected considerably if the medicos’ strike continued for a longer period as the junior doctors and postgraduate students shoulder bulk of the hospital workload. The college has 100 house surgeons and 300 postgraduate students, who extend a helping hand to the doctors. Apart from catering to nearly 3,000 patients everyday at its outdoor, service is provided to another 3,700 patients at this 1700-bed referral hospital.

“We are forced to launch the ceasework as till now no action has been taken by the state government regarding our demands,” said Snehasish Dey, a member of the joint action committee, which is spearheading the agitation.

The undergraduate students boycotted their classes while their postgraduate counterparts and residents skipped duty.

Earlier, the SCB students had staged a silent protest march expressing solidarity with their VSS friends demanding the immediate arrest of BJD leader Sishir Dandia, NAC chairman, and dropping of “false charges” against the students.

Hospital authorities said steps were being taken to ensure that the medical services at the hospital did not suffer.

“Today, postgraduate and undergraduate students have gone on strike. We have to wait and see. We have called doctors from other departments to carry out the medical services at the hospital,” said superintendent D.N. Moharana.

The postgraduate students usually look after the patients during night hours. “We are hopeful that the strike by them would be resolved at the earliest,” said Subham Biswal, an attendant. “Though I had easily managed to get outdoor ticket, I had to wait for nearly two hours to seek assistance for my daughter, who broke her leg in the morning,” said Kailash Jena, a patient’s attendant from Choudwar.