MHP Chair Bahçeli targets Turkish Medical Association, again

* News and photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli spoke at the weekly group meeting of his party in capital Ankara today (March 15).

Amid the country-wide 2-day strike of healthcare workers in Turkey, Bahçeli once again targeted the Turkish Medical Association (TTB).

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Arguing that they, as the MHP, are "aware of the main problems experienced by healthcare workers, especially doctors, and their rightful demands", Devlet Bahçeli argued that the TTB poses "a small minority who leads citizens to fear in the periods when the COVID-19 disease intensifies, fuels concerns and opens Turkey's medical institutions to debate".

Describing the TTB as "a nest of discord where this black propaganda is led and managed", Bahçeli claimed that it "holds on to every scheme, every lie, every slander". The nationalist party leader alleged that "they trample upon the Hippocratic oath that they took before entering the profession and tarnish the medical profession's prestige with ideological obsessions".

"Now, they say, 'Our physicians are leaving Turkey'. They should know that our physicians whose hearts beat with love for the homeland and nation are not going anywhere; nor are they thinking of going anywhere," said Devlet Bahçeli, adding: "If we are to listen to the Turkish Medical Association, Turkey has long declared bankruptcy in healthcare".

About the TTB and health workers' protests

During the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Turkey, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has frequently criticized the health policies of the government with an emphasis on the importance of transparency in sharing data and taking measures based on science.

The TTB and medical associations have also been staging various "white protests" since 2021, demanding an improvement in their wages, working conditions and employee personal rights among others.

Within this context, as part of its protests with the motto "Our Labor, Our Word", the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) set off on its "White March" on November 23, 2021. The march began in İstanbul and physicians stopped by in the provinces of Kocaeli, Bursa and Eskişehir on their way; they arrived in Ankara on November 27 and held a "White Forum" there.

With the legislative proposal foreseeing improvements in the employee personal rights of physicians and dentists withdrawn at the General Assembly of the Parliament, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) also announced that a one-day strike would be staged on December 15.

With the strike in effect since the early morning hours, no healthcare services were offered in medical institutions, except for emergency services, dialysis, intensive care services and emergency services for children.

In late January 2022, the TTB, Turkish Dentists' Association (TDB), Health and Social Service Laborers Union (SES), Progressive Health Workers Union (Dev Sağlık-İş), All Radiology Technicians Union (TÜM-RAD-DER) and Social Service Specialists Union (SHUDER) unveiled a new action plan to demand better wages and employee personal rights.

According to the statement of the organizations, healthcare workers would be on call on January 26 - February 4 and on strike on February 8.

Following this strike on February 8, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) held a press conference on February 22, announcing the further steps to be taken by healthcare workers as part of the "Our Labor, Our Word" action program. Accordingly, the TTB announced that healthcare workers would be on strike on March 14 (Doctor's Day) and March 15, 2022.

In statements on February 24 and March 2, 2022, the TTB reiterated its demands ahead of the 2-day strike in mid-March.

On the first day of the strike on March 14 Doctor's Day, the members of the İstanbul Medical Chamber, affiliated with the TTB, were not allowed to lay wreaths on Taksim Square to mark the Doctor's Day.

In a statement a day later, the TTB denounced the police violence, which also caused 89-year-old retired physician Dr. Erdinç Köksal to fall to the ground, and said: "This intervention is against our profession". (AÖ/SD)