The health of the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Tomislav Nikolic, who has gone on a hunger strike, is getting worse, but Nikolic is conscious, able to communicate and fully in control of his actions, a doctor at the private hospital KBC Novi Beograd, Momcilo Babic, said Monday.

At the KBC, where Nikolic is currently hospitalized, Babic told journalists that when it came to the SNS leader, who had gone on a hunger strike trying to force early elections, there was no sign of inefficiency of any individual organ and he received excellent care at the hospital.

“We are doing everything to persuade him to reverse his decision (regarding the strike), but we have not had much success for now,” said Babic.

Asked by reporters whether Nikolic was receiving any treatment, the doctor said he was being given medication against heart failure and pain-killers.

Babic said that Nikolic's health would be critical had he not been hospitalized on Sunday.

Babic also said that Nikolic suggested to him to present all the lab tests to reporters, but that he had refused to accept that because it was contrary to medical ethics.

Leader of the opposition Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Tomislav Nikolic received reporters in a hospital room of the private hospital KBC Novi Beograd on Monday, and said that he would continue with that form of protest in seeking early elections.

On the third day since he went on a hunger and thirst strike, Nikolic said that he had been urged by doctors to end that form of protest, but that he had not received such a message from Serbian President Boris Tadic and Patriarch Irinej of Serbia.

"Maybe someone will come to tell me that,” Nikolic said, adding that he had not gone on the strike to play with the destiny of his family and Serbia.

Asked whether he expected a new visit by Tadic, he said it would be enough that Tadic spoke to him.