More than 5,000 senior doctors and specialists walked off the job Thursday in an unprecedented 24-hour strike over stalled contract negotiations, Radio New Zealand reported.

The strike is scheduled to end at 11.59 p.m. local time (1159GMT).

Their grievances also include personnel shortages in hospitals and low wages.

While the Health Ministry defended the conditions, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists union, which the doctors are members of, said the strike is for the public health system's good, as they are not able to help patients effectively under the current conditions.

"It is estimated that 4,300 planned procedures will have to be postponed due to the strike action, causing further harm to patients waiting a long time for treatment, and will set back our work to provide New Zealanders with faster access to care,” said Dr. Richard Sullivan, chief clinical officer for Health New Zealand, the country’s primary publicly funded health care system.