Physicians fax their payslips to Parliament in protest: 'Take action'

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The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and medical chambers have protested the withdrawal of the legislative proposal foreseeing improvements in the salaries and employee personal rights of physicians.

With the proposal withdrawn from the agenda of the General Assembly of the Parliament and a Parliamentary debate on the proposal postponed until an uncertain date, physicians have faxed their payslips to a series of political institutions and parties in protest for their rights.

The payslips have been sent to the Parliamentary Speaker's Office, Parliamentary Deputy Speakers' offices and the Health Commission as well as to the political parties that have a group at the Parliament.

Statements for the press have also been held in front of post offices in several provinces as part of the protest.

The press statement of physicians has emphasized that the health policies that have been in effect in Turkey for years have brought society as well as physicians and healthcare workers to the brink of burnout. Raising concerns about the aggravating working conditions, physicians have underlined that violence and unlawfulness have spread to every area of life.

Recalling that all this burden has become heavier with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians have demanded that the legal amendment foreseeing improvements in the salaries and employee personal rights of physicians be brought into the Parliamentary agenda immediately. Otherwise, the physicians' struggle will continue, they have stressed.

The TTB and medical chambers affiliated with it previously held a White March from İstanbul to Ankara, where they held a White Forum in late 2021. They also went on a one-day strike across Turkey.

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(EMK/SD)