‘385 health workers died of coronavirus in Turkey’

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It has been a year since the first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case was officially confirmed in Turkey by the Ministry of Health.

On this occasion, the COVID-19 Monitoring Board of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) held an online press conference yesterday (March 11).

While the press conference was attended by physicians from the TTB Central Council, TTB COVID-19 Monitoring Board and the related branches and working groups of the TTB, Dr. Vedat Bulut, the Association's Secretary General, made a presentation about what happened in Turkey and around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

'No widespread testing policy'

Speaking at the press conference, TTB Central Council Chair Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı presented the TTB's evaluation regarding the 11th month of the pandemic in Turkey. She underlined that the data and indicators needed for an epidemiological assessment of the disease have not been shared or have been constantly changed by the Ministry of Health.

Prof. Korur Fincancı also raised concerns that contact tracing efforts have been limited to the close contacts, noting that no widespread testing policy has been pursued in the country in the meanwhile.

Nearly 400 health workers died

Sharing details about the vaccine research in the last year, Korur Fincancı talked about the concerns that the virus variants might reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines, elaborating on the ongoing scientific research aimed at countering this potential reduced ineffectiveness.

She also announced that 385 healthcare workers have lost their lives due to the pandemic in Turkey in a year.

Giving information about the working conditions of healthcare workers and the TTB's recommendations within this context, Korur Fincancı said, "Our major recommendation is data transparency. We know that when data is not transparent, it is not possible to come through this."

'Vaccination is a strategy'

Prof. Esin Şenol from the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) COVID-19 Monitoring Board said that the statements made by the central administration left the impression of a science fiction movie, noting that the works undertaken by the TTB are invaluable for this reason.

Underlining the hopes raised by ongoing vaccine research, Şenol said, "But the fact that the vaccine is just standing there does not mean anything in itself. Vaccination is a strategy. Working out this strategy properly is our most important weapon in the upcoming period."

'Emergency services get crowded again'

Speaking at the press conference, Prof. Özgür Karcıoğlu from the TTB COVID-19 Monitoring Board raised concerns that emergency services, the points countering the tsunami, are getting crowded again.

TTB Public Health Branch Chair Dr. Nasır Nesanır also emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the inequalities stemming from capitalism. The physician also drew attention to the contradictions in the official death numbers announced by the Ministry of Health.

The press statement of the TTB ended with the screening of a video where Dr. Müge Bozkurt talks about Aydın Medical Chamber Chair Dr. Esat Ülkü, his father whom he lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, and commemorates all deceased healthcare personnel. (AS/SD)