Turkish doctors flee abroad

 

The head of the opposition Democratic and Progress Party, Ali Babacan, criticized the conditions of doctors in Turkey, and their preference to leave the country in search of opportunities and a better future.

Babacan hosted Şebnem Korur Venganci, head of the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association, at his party headquarters, and during a joint press conference, Babacan said Turkey was starting to lose its doctors due to problems related to working conditions.

He added: “Because of the general climate in our country regarding freedoms and problems with working conditions, we see a significant increase in the number of doctors who cannot see their future and their families in this country, and want to establish their lives in other countries. Turkey has become the country of those who want to leave and flee.”

Babacan continued, “With the pandemic period, in addition to the extremely long working hours and shift hours, the intense workload has been recorded with the appointment time being shortened. Violence in health is another problem. The language of politics must be a language of respect worthy of the honor of medicine. Unfortunately, politics can negatively affect the climate of the patient-physician relationship. There are problems with personal rights. These need a rational and just solution. We cannot sacrifice the rights of our healthcare workers.”

Ali Babacan emphasized that his party has an action plan for health in case it comes to power, saying: “We are doing a very detailed study of what needs to be done in the field of health in the first 90 and 360 days of government formation after the elections. After finalizing the draft, we will consult with NGOs and health-related professional organizations.”