Doctors march for pay rise

Doctors and health workers march in Paris

PARIS, France -- Thousands of medics marched through the French capital demanding better pay for doctors.

Workers from across the health sector -- including doctors, nurse, ambulance drivers and pharmacists -- joined the latest demonstration on Sunday in a four month long campaign.

Doctors are demanding an increase in the base fee they can charge, from 17.5 euros (about $15.50) to 20 euros ($17.70).

They also want the fee for house calls to be raised from 21 euros ($18.60) to 30 euros ($26.60).

Under the slogan "Health for all, health is all," the doctors have attracted other health professionals to the latest protest.

Michel Chassang, president of the main doctors union UNOF told The Associated Press: "This is a new step in the face of a government that persists in remaining deaf to our demands and starting next week, we'll announce other plans."

Since January, doctors have held two strikes with one, on January 23, shutting up to 80 percent of the general practitioners' offices around France.

UNOF has denounced a deal struck on January 24 between the government and a smaller doctors' union, MG France, as a sell-out.

The agreement gave doctors the right to increase their base fee for a consultation by 1 euro (88 cents) -- making the new fee, which came into force on February 1, 18.5 euros ($16.20).

If the march is successful, the demands could become a hot political issue with the first round of voting in presidential elections taking place on April 21, with a final round on May 5.