‘No one believes the official COVID-19 figures in Turkey’

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

The İstanbul Medical Chamber has commemorated Dr. Salih Kanlı, who lost his life due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Having contracted the virus, Dr. Kanlı lost his life on October 17 after being treated for the disease for 10 days.

As far as the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) could detect, 120 healthcare workers, including 52 physicians, died of the virus in Turkey.

'All these numbers are a big lie'

A statement for the press was held in front of the İstanbul Medical Chamber Central Office today (October 20). Chamber Chair Prof. Dr. Pınar Saip, executive board members and health workers attended the statement.

As reported by the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the banner opened in the statement read, "They can tell success stories all they want, we are dying."

Addressing the health workers there, İstanbul Medical Chamber Executive Board member Osman Öztürk said that the coronavirus outbreak was still ongoing at full pace. "Coronavirus has now turned into a mistreatment of healthcare workers in Turkey," Öztürk said, protesting that the "wrong policies and wrong practices" of the ruling Justice and Development Party "(AKP) government claims the lives of health workers."

"Our friends, our colleagues are dying," Osman Öztürk said and added, "On the other side, they are telling success stories, they are giving numbers every evening; however, no one believes the numbers they give. All these numbers are a big lie. We know the truth."

Concluding his remarks, Öztürk indicated, "In this process, we - as the TTB and İstanbul Medical Chamber - are struggling and will keep on struggling to protect our colleagues, health workers and the people."

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(AS/SD)