BERLIN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Marburger Bund, Germany's largest association of doctors, called on its members at hundreds of hospitals throughout the country to go on strike on Thursday.

       "Scheduled operations will not be able to take place in most municipal hospitals today," the association's President, Susanne Johna, told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). Emergency services would be maintained.

       Doctors in municipal hospitals across Germany demand proportionate rest breaks, a lighter workload and a 5.5 percent salary increase. The call for strike action applied to all hospitals covered by collective bargaining agreements with around 55,000 doctors.

       "Our members have shown a great interest in our strike," said Armin Ehl, chief executive of Marburger Bund, in a statement on Wednesday. Many doctors would have the "impression that their services have not been sufficiently appreciated, particularly in the past two pandemic years."

       On Wednesday, the German government adopted a draft law that would see nursing staff in hospitals and care facilities receive a bonus for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The total budget here is one billion euros (1.1 billion U.S. dollars).