Ministers have agreed a pay deal intended to end resident doctor strikes, with the government estimating the measure will cost about £200 million in the current year. Multiple outlets report that Health Secretary James Murray backs the agreement and argues it is financially justified. Murray says the bill is “less than the cost of one more week’s worth of strikes,” framing the settlement as cheaper than continuing industrial action. The agreement is reported to have been reached between the UK government and the British Medical Association (BMA) on Monday, following the period of strike action involving resident doctors. One outlet adds that the government’s decision could lead other unions to raise further pay demands, although the reported figures and the fact of the settlement are consistent across coverage. Overall, the reports describe a government-backed resolution to the dispute that ends strikes and carries a government estimate of £200 million for this year, with Murray presenting the decision as a cost-saving alternative to renewed strike weeks.