Family Physicians' Work Stoppage Action: The Need for Transformation in Healthcare
Family physicians across Türkiye a five-day work stoppage This action, supported by many unions and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) in addition to Sağlık Sen, has caused disruptions in primary health care services in particular. This situation experienced in Family Health Centers (ASM) has caused serious grievances for patients who want to have medicine prescribed, receive a report or get vaccinated.
Objectives of the Action and Demands
The main objective of this action is to Family Health Centers Regulationto not accept the situation and to protect public health. During the protest, health workers made their voices heard by carrying umbrellas with the words "Minister Resign" written on them. Family physicians list the basic demands required for the protection and improvement of public health as follows:
- The physical and medical equipment of primary health care services, which are a public service, are provided by the public.
- Providing sufficient time and opportunities to family physicians, increasing the number of ASMs so that the population per physician does not exceed 2.000.
- Ending precarious and unstaffed employment in ASMs and assigning sufficient nurses and midwives.
- Paying health workers a single salary that is sufficient to enable them to live humanely.
- Taking effective measures to prevent violence in healthcare and ensuring the life safety of healthcare workers.
TTB's Statements and Messages to the Public
The Turkish Medical Association made a statement regarding this action, “Regulation on Torture” emphasizes that the regulation change called "harms public health". TTB Central Council Vice President Dr. Pınar Saip made the following statements in the press release held in Istanbul:
“We are against the Torment Regulation. Because this regulation is harmful to public health.” Dr. Saip stated that it is unacceptable to pit doctors against patients, to impose restrictions on prescriptions, and to restrict good medical practices. He stated that they do not want health services to become a business and that they will fight to prevent violence in health from increasing.
Press Releases in Gaziantep
In the press statement made in Gaziantep, TTB Central Council member Dr. Ayşegül Ateş Tarla expressed the problems of the current health system. “We do not accept regulations that prevent the public from receiving quality health care.” He emphasized the importance of quality and safety in healthcare. He also opposed the bill that would allow traditional and complementary medical practices to be performed by family physicians, stating that such regulations would harm public health.
Call to the Ministry of Health
Important messages were given to the Ministry of Health in the press releases. “You cannot fix a health system that has become a mess of problems with performance-based regulations.” It was emphasized that the recommendations of healthcare professionals should be taken into consideration. Family physicians and healthcare professionals continue to inform the public so that the system can be organized fairly and effectively.
As a result
Family physicians and healthcare professionals in Turkey are taking a determined stance to solve the current problems. The struggle to protect public health is an issue that concerns not only healthcare professionals but also all segments of society. The Family Physician Regulation needs to be withdrawn and important steps need to be taken to improve the healthcare system. Increasing the quality of healthcare services is of great importance for the protection of public health.
