THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Healthcare services across the state were affected as doctors of state-run hospitals boycotted work for hours on Monday and those of the private hospitals supporting the 24-hour nationwide strike being observed in support of the protests in West Bengal.

Long queues near Outpatient Departments (OPDs) were seen in several government hospitals across the state in the early hours of the day. Some patients said they didn't know of the strike and have been waiting for hours.

The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) participated in the boycott for an hour from 10 am.

Indian Medical Association's Kerala unit Secretary, Dr. Sulphi Noohu, said only emergency services and casualty wing will function at private hospitals during the strike.

Doctors will also not undertake private practice during the strike, he added.

Members of the IMA, which has called the strike, also staged a sit-in in front of the Raj Bhavan here, demanding security and protection for doctors.

Doctors and medical students participated in the sit-in and raised demands like central legislation to protect doctors who were being attacked in hospitals, among others.