Panaji, Mar 24 (IANS): The Goa chapter of the Indian Medical Association on Tuesday urged doctors to suspend out patient department (OPD) services of their respective hospitals and clinics till March 31, stating that the facilities were "hotspots for COVID-19 transmission".

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the IMA (Goa) president S. Samuel Arawattigi also said that a detailed advisory would be issued soon.

"We request our IMA-Goa members to avoid OPD services till March 31.

"We request members to guide patients on the phone about their problems and continue emergency services in nearby hospitals. We are stopping OPD services, because we believe that these places will be hotspots for COVID-19 transmission," the statement also said.

"All IMA doctors are committed to come and join the efforts of the government to stop this menace as and when government directs. We will release advisory on the regular basis after necessary updates," Arawattigi also said.