March 14 Medicine Day: Doctors' Struggle Day
Every year, March 14 is celebrated as an important day for the medical community. However, in recent years, this date has become a day of struggle rather than a holiday. Izmir Medical Chamber Chairman of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ceyhun Özyurt and Doctors' Association Izmir Branch President Dr. Bahar Sarı Narğis expressed the difficulties faced by physicians and the problems in the health system. This article will provide an in-depth look at the difficulties experienced by physicians and the needs of the health system.
Violence Against Healthcare Workers
In recent years, healthcare professionals violence and harassment The increase in incidents negatively affects the work motivation of doctors. Prof. Dr. Özyurt expresses this situation as follows: “Different incidents occur every day and healthcare workers are harassed for any reason.” This situation causes young doctors to move away from the profession and leads to them migrating abroad.
Migration Abroad and Brain Drain
The migration of doctors abroad is one of the biggest losses of the health system. Özyurt draws attention to the seriousness of this problem by saying, “This situation means losing our trained brains.” The fact that doctors’ personal rights are not improved and their working conditions are getting harder are among the main factors that encourage migration.
Working Hours of Doctors and Patient Health
Shortening examination times negatively affects patient health. Özyurt emphasizes that examination times should be increased, saying, “The time allocated to the patient needs to reach a humane level.” Today, in some health institutions, doctors only three minutes This situation weakens the communication between the patient and the doctor and reduces the quality of health care.
The Meaning of March 14 and Changing Conditions
While March 14 Medicine Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the past, this enthusiasm has faded away today due to the difficulties experienced by doctors. Narğis summarizes the heartbreaking situation by saying, “In the past, March 14 was celebrated as a celebration. However, today, doctors cannot even celebrate this day due to the difficulties they experience.”
Performance Based Compensation
In the health system performance based compensation practices put great pressure on physicians. Nargis says, “The performance system is a great burden for physicians,” and indicates that this system negatively affects the provision of health services. Physicians must have the necessary time and conditions to provide quality health services.
Rights of Physicians and Professional Honor
Physicians must protect their professional honor, public health It is of great importance for the health sector. Narğis emphasized that they will fight for the rights of doctors by saying, “We will go on strike to be able to celebrate March 14 as a holiday.” It is essential that the laws are strengthened so that healthcare professionals can work in a safe working environment with the right to equal pay for equal work.
Responsibilities of Physicians and Public Awareness
Healthcare professionals, in addition to having the responsibility to protect public health, must also defend their own rights. The pressures experienced by physicians negatively affect the quality of healthcare services, and this situation also threatens public health. The public must protect the rights of healthcare professionals.
As a result
March 14 Medicine Day is not just a celebration, but also an opportunity to draw attention to the challenges faced by physicians. Solving the problems in the healthcare system, improving the working conditions of physicians, and preventing violence against healthcare professionals are critical to public health. Physicians should feel that they are not alone in their struggle to protect their professional honor and should receive the support of society.
