In a precedent ruling, court orders Social Security Institution to reimburse for HPV vaccine

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The court has handed down its ruling in the court case filed by the Children and Women First Association, which requested that human papillomaviruses (HPV) vaccines, which prevent the HPV infection causing cervical cancer, be added to the routine vaccination schedule.

In the court case filed by the lawyers of the Association on behalf of Yağmur Varkal, the Ankara 62nd Labor Court has ruled that the Social Security Institution (SGK) shall reimburse her for the HPV vaccine.

The Association has announced the ruling in a social media post and said, "It is now turn to make the vaccine free for everyone!"

'SGK cannot lodge an appeal'

Speaking to bianet about the court ruling, Yağmur Varkal has said, "We have waged a struggle and won". Nilda Baltalı, one of the lawyers from the Children and Women First Association, has told bianet:

"We filed these lawsuits to ensure that it is added to the free vaccination schedule. It is a part of 71 counties' national vaccination programs. Children and women are vaccinated for free, we said at court.

"It is offered for free in over 100 countries. We said, 'Let's make Turkey one of these countries.' We argued that the state has negligence there. We said that everyone has the right to life.

"It is written in our Constitution. The state shall offer free and quality health services. The issue at our court case was this. It is not only a social problem. This needs to be done for sexual health and freedom as well.

"When people have cancer, the state is already obliged to have these diseases treated and costs increase. The state shall pay for this vaccine that cannot be afforded by a woman working for minimum wage. We had an expert report. Science was also on our side.

"There was another precedent ruling before. This is the second precedent ruling. The Social Security Institution (SGK) does not have the right to appeal in this case. This is very hope-inspiring."

Campaign for free HPV vaccination in Turkey

There are 100 strains of HPV virus that have been identified so far. As part of the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight cervical cancer, vaccination programs are in effect in 100 countries.

There are also campaigns requesting that the HPV vaccine be offered free in Turkey. The request for including the vaccine in Turkey's national vaccination program was previously taken to the Parliamentary Agenda. One dose of the vaccine costs around 700 lira. Considering that three doses are necessary, it accounts for over 2,000 lira, which is half of the minimum wage. (EMK/SD)