Kochi: The healthcare sector was badly affected after Indian Medical Association began the dawn-to-dusk nationwide strike today against the National Medical Council Bill.

Only emergency and critical care services were functioning, IMA state president Dr EK Unmer and secretary Dr L Zulfi told mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram.

Doctors boycotted the outpatient department for an hour.

Doctors of government and private hospitals observing black day, took out a Raj Bhavan march by doctors and said there would be no private practice. Specialists too joined the strike.