A one-day strike by surgeons, doctors and other medical staff brought Italy's health service to a standstill on Friday, forcing hospitals to postpone all work except emergency services.
An estimated five million medical appointments and 45,00 non-urgent operations were cancelled because of the strike, called in protest over stalled talks on contract renewal.
Medical union ANAOO said between 70 to 75% of the country's doctors took part in the strike, which also involved state veterinarians.
A delegation of doctors in lab coats took part in a protest demo outside the health ministry main office in Rome.
Health Minister Livia Turco said the government would settle the contract dispute by the end of the year, earmarking funds for salary increases in the 2008 budget.
