Family physicians in Turkey to strike for five days in December

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Family physicians and other health workers across Turkey stopped work for three days on November 5-7 against an amended regulation attacking their working conditions. The new conditions came into force on November 1. Health workers have announced they will stop work for five days between December 2 and 6 if the regulation is not withdrawn. A protest rally in Ankara by family physicians on October 19 was joined by thousands of people.

The new regulation imposes many administrative tasks on family physicians that are not part of their professional duties. In addition, a change in payment coefficients and increased performance quotas mean physicians will face serious salary cuts.

Striking health workers make a press statement. November 7, 2024, Kadıköy- Istanbul [Photo: @dayanismasen/X)]

The work stoppage on November 5-7 was called by the Turkish Medical Association (TMA) and other health organisations at Family Health Centres (FHCs) across the country. Physicians and allied health workers stopped work at thousands of FHCs across Turkey and protested in city squares and in front of health directorates.

Health workers have demanded the regulation be withdrawn and are calling for improvements to working conditions and public health services. These include public provision of equipment and infrastructure for FHCs, including a maximum of 2,000 patients for each family doctor, and the hiring of more nurses, midwives and technicians on secure employment terms.

Dr. Ahmet Kandemir, President of the Family Health Workers’ Trade Union (AHESEN), said, “Although we organised a big rally in Ankara and a three-day work stoppage against the ‘Oppression’ regulation, the Ministry of Health chose to ignore us. We decided to stop work for another five days for our professional honour and the future of public health.”

Kandemir said the regulation changes the patient-physician relationship into a customer relationship, and made clear the Ministry of Health will be responsible for any suffering arising from it.

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