Ankara Medical Chamber: Testing of Health Workers Stopped After Some Tested Positive

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Coronavirus testing of healthcare personnel in the capital Ankara was stopped after nine health workers tested positive, Ankara Medical Chamber stated today (April 10).

It said that testing started with 112 emergency service workers on April 5 and a fourth of them were tested until authorities stopped testing, which it said was "perilous and unbelievable."

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Test results indicated that professional healthcare organizations were right to demand transparency from authorities since the announcement of the first Covid-19 case in Turkey, the statement further said.

"We stated that when health workers become ill, a loss of a healthy workforce will occur and this will hinder the fight against the pandemic. We said/say that managing the pandemic process well in terms of social benefit can only be possible by acting in the light of epidemiological data.

"Unfortunately, where we stand now is a clear indication that what we said is ignored. Political interests, not social benefit, have been considered and continue to be considered."

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The chamber asked the following questions to the Health Ministry and health administrators in Ankara:

Why have you stopped screening tests in the 112 emergency group?

Is health workers and public health or the concern that statistical data will worsen when unwanted results come out important for you?

Is your purpose to protect the health of health workers and the people or to protect numerical data?

How will you protect 112 emergency workers, who have the highest risk of contact and contamination among health workers and serve the people in the highest risk group for Covid-19, from now on?

Are you aware that you will cause deaths by dispatching 112 emergency workers who were not tested for emergency healthcare requests?

Will you restart the testing of healthcare workers?

Do you have a reasonable and sensible explanation if you won't resume testing? (TP/VK)