Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who is a doctor, on Wednesday examined patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi and warned the protesting medicos to end their strike or face termination of service.

"Then there is no other option left but to terminate them from service," he said when asked about the possible action against the striking medicos if they failed to return to work.

• The Reservation Issue 

The minister, wearing the doctors' white gown, walked into the OPD at AIIMS around 9.30 am and examined patients for about 30 minutes as a "symbolic gesture".

Pointing out that the government has initiated steps to maintain health services, he said, "If the condition continues like this, we have to find new doctors and they will be appointed permanently."

Appealing to the doctors to return to work, the minister said, "Poor patients are coming here from different parts of the country; I appeal to the doctors to join work. It is our duty to save life and not to take it."

Ramadoss said a number of doctors have returned to work at AIIMS and the government has asked AIIMS Director P Venugopal to provide adequate security to them.

He said he would visit other hospitals through the day to review the situation.

The Delhi Medical Association called for a medical shutdown on Wednesday to protest against the government's decision to implement OBC quota.

The medical services have been crippled for over a fortnight in the national capital due to the agitation by medicos against the 27 per cent OBC quota in elite educational institutions.