YOU have an excruciating pain so you take a pill and hope to sleep - because there will be no doctors to attend to you at public hospitals this morning.

YOU have an excruciating pain so you take a pill and hope to sleep - because there will be no doctors to attend to you at public hospitals this morning.

State doctors are marching to the Department of Health in Pretoria, and will be joined by Cosatu secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

However, the Health Department has assured the public that healthcare services would continue at hospitals - despite the planned strike action.

Spokesperson Fidel Hadebe said this week that the government would bring in army doctors, if necessary.

"We are considering activating a range of interventions based on the impact of the strike.

"The right to access healthcare is a constitutional and legal one that we take seriously.

"The department commits itself to do everything possible to ensure that this right is not tampered with or unnecessarily compromised."

According to the organiser of the march, Lebogang Phahladira, about 5000 doctors plan to march, and only a few would remain in hospitals to attend to emergencies.

Doctors have rejected thegovernment's 5percent increase offer and demand a 50percent increase.