An association of senior doctors has called for a token partial cease-work from non-emergency services across private and government hospitals between 6am on Monday and 6pm on Wednesday, demanding that the state government accede to the demands of the junior doctors who are on a fast.

OPD appointments and planned surgeries are the ones to be hit most by this call for withdrawal from non-emergency services.

Patients requiring dialysis or someone coming to a hospital with cardiac problems will not be turned away. What is an emergency case will be decided by the doctor examining the patient, said one of the doctors who announced the withdrawal on Saturday evening.

If the government does not accept the demands of the junior doctors by 6am on Wednesday, the senior doctors might have to extend their cease-work from non-emergency duties, he said.

The shutdown of OPDs on the first day after the Puja holidays is likely to put people looking for a doctor's consultation in trouble.

A consultant in a private hospital off EM Bypass told The Telegraph that he and some of his colleagues have decided they will examine any patient who came to the hospital but not charge them.

"Everyone may not be aware of the token partial cease-work. How can I turn away someone who has come to the hospital after travelling for several hours?" said the doctor.

"We will not attend any outdoor (OPD) clinics or planned surgeries between 6am on Monday and 6am on Wednesday. No emergency service will be stopped. A patient with any problem can come to the hospital. If the doctor examining the patient decides this is an emergency, the patient will be treated," said Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay, a senior consultant of medical oncology at Manipal Hospitals.

The call for the cease-work came from the Healthcare Professionals of Private Hospitals and the Federation of Medical Associations (FEMA).

"The call to join this withdrawal is given to all doctors in government sector, private sector, junior doctor, senior doctor, diagnostic centres and those running private clinics," he said.

"We request the government to listen to the demands of the junior doctors and accept them. The moment, we feel, or the junior doctors feel, their demands have been met, the withdrawal from non-emergency services will be stopped. But if the government does not listen to their demands by Wednesday, we might have to extend this cease-work," said Mukhopadhyay.

Six junior doctors began their hunger strike on October 5. The number of doctors on fast increased over time. Two of those who were on fast have been admitted to hospitals after they fell ill.

The joint platform of doctors, an umbrella body of several associations of doctors announced on Saturday, that they will organise a carnival of protest (Droher Carnival) on Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Esplanade at 4pm on Tuesday.

"We are inviting people to join the protest. We emailed Kolkata Police today morning for permission to organise the protest, but we have yet to receive any reply," said Kaushik Chaki, a member of the joint platform of doctors.