Nurses on sale, low prices all year round

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Police said that some 3,200 people took part in the demonstration, while organisers put the figure at 15,000. The participants were primarily self-employed nurses, who treat patients in their homes.

They headed for the Labour Ministry on the capital's Left Bank, where their representatives were due to discuss their demands with Employment Minister Elisabeth Guigou.

The unions want a package of 230m euros ($203m) to increase the fees and allowances of self-employed nurses, many of whom work up to 70 hours per week and travel long distances to tend to their patients.

String of strikes

The demonstration came a day after hospital workers, including doctors, nurses and administrators, went on strike to protest against staff shortages caused by the introduction of the 35-hour working week.

Mr Jospin has a year of elections ahead

The weekend had also seen chaos in the emergency rooms, after general practitioners (GPs) refused to visit patients at home - as part of their own campaign for higher consultancy fees.

The series of strikes is due to culminate on Wednesday, when GPs are expected to stage a "No Doctor Day" and close their surgeries for 24 hours. Most family doctors are expected to take part.

They will be joined by some specialists, ambulance drivers, dentists and emergency workers.

Popular sympathy

The widespread unrest within the health sector comes at a critical time for the government of Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, which faces legislative elections later this year.

Correspondents say it is therefore a particularly favourable time for health workers to have launched their campaign, and that the government is under pressure to meet their demands.

There is also much popular sympathy for the workers.

Television images of exhausted hospital staff, and patients left for hours in waiting rooms and corridors, have shocked the country.