In a stormy session the general assembly of the Doctors’ Syndicate decided on Sunday that its members will strike for one day on 10 May across the country, threatening to go on an open-ended strike starting from 17 May if their demands are not met.

The strike will not include emergency rooms, intensive care or urgent surgery, says Ibrahim Alshehaby, member of the general assembly.

Members of the syndicate who will not abide by the assembly's decision are subject to disciplinary action.

Qasr El-Aini Street, where the headquarters of the syndicate are, was blocked by the sheer number of 3,000 doctors who participated in today's assembly.

The main hall of the building accommodates only 500 members, forcing the rest to spill into the streets.

The demands of the strike include doctors’ wages, improving training and development standards of doctors and health workers and raising the health budget to 15 per cent of the state budget.