CHENNAI - Demanding a pay hike, some 100-odd medical practitioners formed a human chain here on Friday.

The medicos, who have been on strike for the past nine days, said they had met and asked the Health Minister and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to intervene.

“For the past eight months, we have not been given a solution yet so we are still protesting. We have been called for talks 2 days ago, but they haven’t given any solution. Initially, they asked us to withdraw strike, we will negotiate,” Siva Prakasam, a medical student said.

Meanwhile, an indefinite strike called by resident doctors in western Mumbai over salary hike and an increase in monthly stipend has severely affected patients.

“I got my father here from a private hospital as he was not getting well there. They should take care of us,” Radha, a relative of a patient.

The authorities, however, said that they have been trying to handle the situation with whatever manpower they have.

“Those patients who are slowly recovering, who can be managed at home, who can be given medicines, advice sent home and called back whatever needed, that particular option is taken. Second option taken is that those operations which are planned operations, I am not saying that they do not need, they need those operations but which can be deferred for few days, we will have to send home,” Sanjay N Oak, said. (ANI)