Most of the people being turned away from hospitals were from the black working class who could not afford private hospitals because of past inequities, Vavi said in his opening address at Cosatu's education and skills conference in Johannesburg.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions was pleased that there was a tentative pay agreement on the table that might end unprotected strikes in some provinces.

The union federation also supported doctors' demands.

"But we can't close our eyes to the fact that we will lose public sympathy if this strike is not resolved soon."

Doctors in many provinces had been staying away from work, causing the closure of units in public hospitals as they drove home demands for the implementation of their occupation specific dispensation, which the government wanted to introduce to improve their pay.

Unions are currently consulting their members to decide whether they should accept the new offer government presented on Tuesday.

Sapa

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