Ahmedabad, July 31 - About 4,800 students from government-run medical colleges across Gujarat Friday observed a day's strike in support of resident doctors who are on strike for a week demanding a higher stipend.

The students stayed away from their classes. They announced their strike Thursday evening following a government claim that medical services in all hospitals were only marginally hit on account of the indefinite strike of resident doctors since July 23.

The students helped resident doctors run parallel out-patient departments in the government hospitals.

The Gujarat Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) said that only a section of the resident doctors have resumed duty since Thursday evening while a majority of them remain on strike.

The striking doctors are treating patients outside government hospitals by running parallel OPDs to ensure patients do not suffer.

The resident doctors have also raised issues such as long duty hours compared to senior doctors.