The union called on 8,000 doctors and dentists to go on strike because of the government's decision not to apply a collective agreement in employment of these two professions. The agreement provides for a 10-percent annual rise in physicians' and dentists' salaries in the next six year as well as some other material rights.
The government rejected the agreement claiming that it was concluded unlawfully, and last week the Ivo Sanader cabinet okayed a 10-percent rise in doctors' and dentists' salaries for this year.
Last Friday, the Zagreb County Court decided to ban the strike following a claim filed by the Ministry of Health.
Babic said on Saturday that the doctors would be on strike until the competent court reached a final ruling banning their action.
Health Minister Neven Ljubicic called on patients, who have made appointments with doctors for today, to go to hospitals.
Babic, on the other hand, said the hospitals would work as they work on holidays and weekends when they deal with only urgent cases.