Health workers across Turkey have gone on a one-day strike on Wednesday to protest violence against health workers.

The general strike, joined by members of Turkish Medical Association, Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services and Dev Sağlık-İş, is being staged at the anniversary of the death of doctor Ersin Arslan who was killed by a patient's relative last year.

Health workers will also protest against the government's policies in healthcare field.

Health services have been suspended across the country today, with service being provided only for emergency patients, cancer, dialysis patients and children.

The strike program in Istanbul has started with commemoration ceremonies for doctor Arslan at nine o'clock in the morning.

In a statement on behalf of health occupation organizations, Mihriban Emek pointed out that the health policies of the AKP government have made patients and health workers come up against each other. Emek also called attention to government's new employment models and investigations, detentions and arrests that health workers face when exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Emek underlined that health workers cannot offer qualified health service under the present conditions of a poor health system and violence against health workers.

Health workers on the strike will gather in front of Çapa Medical Faculty at 11 a.m. before they march to the provincial Health Department in Unkapanı.