Doctors, health workers go on strike across Turkey after murder of cardiologist

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Doctors and health workers have started a two-day strike after the killing of Ekrem Karakaya, a cardiologist in the Central Anatolian province of Konya, by the son of a patient who recently died.

The assailant shot himself dead after killing the doctor.

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB), which called for the strike, along with other health workers' groups, said, "We will go on a strike on July 7-8 against violence in healthcare while saying, 'We are sorry, we are angry! We will hold those responsible accountable'."

The TTB shared photos of striking health workers from several hospitals in İstanbul, as well as in other provinces on its social media account.

"We will not forget those responsible, who didn't take the measures that would say 'stop' to the environment of violence despite all our warnings."

One of the demonstrations took place in front of the İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine in Çapa, Fatih, where doctors who wanted to march to the Provincial Directorate of Health. The riot police blocked and pushed them with their shields.

The doctors then called on Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca to resign, and chanted, "Barricades for murderers, not doctors."

Meanwhile, a police officer fell ill and was offered first aid by the protesting doctors.

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