10.03.2025 08:13
Doctors, midwives, and nurses working in Family Medicine will hold a strike across Turkey on March 14, Medical Day. The President of the Family Medicine Workers' Union, Kandemir, stated, "If doctors cannot find a building on their own, even the termination of contracts may come to the agenda. Family physicians have neither job security nor public building security."
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The doctors, midwives, and nurses working in Family Medicine will hold a strike on March 14, Medical Day, with the support of many health unions.
Speaking about the strike to be held across Turkey, AHESEN President Dr. Ahmet Kandemir drew attention to the increasing problems faced by healthcare workers, emphasizing that the Ministry of Health has not made the necessary arrangements despite warnings.
"VIRTUAL FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS WITHOUT BUILDINGS REMAIN EMPTY"
Kandemir stated that the lack of job security for family physicians, the absence of public building support, and the increasing costs being burdened on physicians have made the system unsustainable, saying, "Although the Ministry claims it will increase family medicine units, physicians, family health midwives, and nurses do not prefer this field. In the additional placements made in Izmir, 20 family medicine units were opened, but there were no applications for any of them. Even in a large city like Izmir, it will not be difficult to think that the same situation exists in other provinces while Family Medicine units remain empty. Virtual Family Health Centers without buildings are left vacant. This is the biggest indicator that the healthcare system is signaling an alarm," he said.
"THERE ARE NO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PHYSICIANS ARE TOLD 'TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF'"
Recalling that a Family Health Center (ASM) with 7 units in Balçova, Izmir, was evacuated on the grounds that it was unsuitable, Kandemir said, "Not only are public buildings not allocated to our colleagues, but they are also told, 'Find a new place on your own or go somewhere else.' If physicians cannot find a building with their own means, contract termination may even come to the agenda. Family physicians have neither job security nor public building security," he said.
"CITIZENS WILL BE FORCED INTO THE PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEM"
Kandemir emphasized that the Ministry of Health insists on not making arrangements in the current regulation, stating, "It is becoming increasingly difficult for citizens to receive quality and accessible healthcare services. If the family medicine system is not strengthened, it will become almost impossible to receive healthcare services from the public. We do not want our patients to be condemned to the private health system," he said.
"A NEW AND FAIR REGULATION IS ESSENTIAL"
Kandemir stated that their demands are very clear, saying, "As the main actors in this field, a new regulation should be created together with NGOs. Both the rights of healthcare workers should be protected, and citizens' access to quality healthcare services should be guaranteed. On March 14, Medical Day, we will once again loudly express these demands through a strike for our professional honor and the future of public health," he said.
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