Mongolian health professionals have announced the start of a strike over pay and working conditions from Wednesday (4 July). There is concern that this action, which has no announced deadline, will bring the country’s state-run hospitals to a standstill. The protesters have vowed to continue the protest until their demands are accepted; top on the list is that the cabinet approves an agreement  which was signed between the Mongolian Health Workers Union (HWU) and the Ministry of Health in May. The agreement will help to increase the number of nurses, safety and welfare of workers as well as to raise monthly salaries. However, their demands have so far not been met as deadline expires today.

B.Myagmar, director of the Mongolian Health Workers Union (HWU), said ‘We have been working for a deal with government officials for six months before announcing the strike action. I have met HWO directors from 70 soums (districts)’.