The 5,000-odd doctors are agitating under the banner of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). Among these, around 2,000 are from Mumbai. Medical services in the state continued to be affected because of the agitation. Till now, around five rounds of talks have been held among the doctors and the state government officials.

Addressing a press conference at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation here, Municipal Commissioner K Nalinakshan said the situation in the government hospitals has improved as patients are pouring in to both the Out Patient Departments (OPDs) and indoor patients department. ``There is an upward trend as the situation has reached 70 per cent to normalcy and the senior doctors are handling it very well'' he claimed.

Meanwhile, MARD is busy chalking out a plan of action fornext week. MARD spokespeson and organising secretary, Dr Rajas Deshpande said morchas and rallies have been planned. However, in a change from MARD's earlier position demanding central pay parity, Dr Deshpande said it would be ready to call off the strike if junior and senior residents are given an equal pay hike.

MARD had rejected an offer made on Saturday of a Rs 2,500 hike for junior residents and Rs 4,000 for senior residents. If junior residents are also given a hike of Rs 4,000, MARD would call off the strike in the interest of patients and considering the appeals of senior teachers, Dr Deshpande stated.