"All doctors have returned to work except those who were supposed to be off," said KwaZulu-Natal health department spokesman Chris Maxon.

Public relations officers for Durban's three big hospitals reported all their doctors had returned to work.

Addington, Prince Mshiyeni Memorial and King Edward VIII were hardest hit by the doctors' strike as they had to turn away patients.

Dr Cameron McIntosh and Dr Thandeka Mazibuko, leaders of the KwaZulu-Natal strike, said they were at work on Friday and that doctors had returned to work.

MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo on Friday morning called on all striking doctors, including 276 fired doctors, to return to work.

Striking doctors agreed to suspend the strike on Thursday after Congress of SA Trade Unions president Sdumo Dlamini promised to make sure fired doctors would be re-instated.

A meeting was held on Thursday night between Dhlomo, Dlamini and doctors' representatives where a decision was taken to re-instate all fired doctors.

Dhlomo said the department had rescinded all the letters of dismissal it had issued on Monday. The letters were served after doctors defied a Durban Labour Court interim interdict compelling them to return to work.

The Thursday night meeting was cordial and handled in a mature manner, said Maxon.

All parties acknowledged that doctors' and health officials' pay was not satisfactory, he said.

"This combined with the staff shortages and other conditions place a heavy burden on the shoulders of the doctors and other health officials."

All parties had also acknowledged the strike was unprocedural.

"The parties acknowledged that the strike caused untold hardships and seriously inconvenienced the public who relied on the provision of the essential service by the doctors," said Maxon.

Sapa

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