Turkish Medical Association: PM Should Apologize For ‘Searching for Girls’ Statement

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Upon PM Yıldırım’s words regarding emergency services and ‘revolutions’ in health system, Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has urged the PM to apologize from health care workers and act more serious.

Besides, it has also been expressed, that the Minister of Health who had been listening to PM Yıldırım’s unethical comments with no reaction, should not hold back reacting against the PM’s words contradicting work ethics.

What had the PM said?

Holding a speech in the group meeting of Justice And Development Party (AKP) yesterday (July 12), Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım had said;

“We have made a revolution in health. We are rapidly founding hospitals. A friend has mentioned it and it has caught my attention. Citizens are visiting emergency services on the feast days. Do you know why? Not to get medical treatment, but to look for girls [meaning potential wives]. The hospitals are so cute now, that they are going to hospitals to match their sons and daughters. Friendships are being built there, and visits to build a nest. So it means that emergency services do not only cure but also serve to help starting a family. This is the point we have reached”

115 million cases per year

TTB has addressed PM following remarks and asked him if he was aware of the facts that;

* The pile-ups in emergency services for non-emergency reasons has reached peak within AKP’s Transition in Health Programme

* There are 115 million emergency cases per year in Turkey and this figure is higher than Turkey’s current population which is why Turkey could be considered a “rare” country in the world

* In the current health system, in which patients increasingly have to pay for the services from their own pockets, people, especially those who in debt due to General Health Insurance premium payments and others who have no health insurance are forced to come to the emergency service also for non-emergency cases.  

* And most of the violence cases in healthcare was being experienced in emergency services. (NV/DG)