Doctors working in Portugal's largest maternity hospital, in Lisbon, have begun an 11 day strike. The strike aims to prevent the exodus to other institutions of obstetricians trained at the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital. It also seeks to ensure that agreed overtime payments are honoured.

The strike began at midnight on Monday 17 May and was due to continue until midnight on 28 May, according to the Portuguese Independent Union of Doctors.

Alvaro Cohen, spokesman for the union, said that all state doctors in the obstetrics department have joined the strike, 98% of those in gynaecology, 88% in anaesthesia, and 76% …