Social Security Institution refuses to recognize Covid-19 as occupational disease for doctors

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The Social Security Institution (SGK) has refused to recognize Covid-19 as an occupational disease for a doctor in the western İzmir province, the İzmir Medical Chamber has announced.

After a workplace doctor died of Covid-19, the medical chamber applied to the SGK, demanding a survivor's pension for the family of the doctor, stating that his death should be considered within occupational diseases.

Prior to his death, the doctor provided intense Covid-19 training and health services to employees, the association said.

In its response to the request, the SGK stated that Covid-19 was not included in the "List of Occupational Infectious Diseases" and rejected the application.

The reason for the rejection was "tragicomic," the medical chamber said, noting that Covid-19 was not defined when the list in question was formed.

It was incompatible with the principle of the social state of law that the administration was "putting obstacles in the way of health workers" while it could resolve the problem with new regulation, said the chamber.

Health workers' organizations have been demanding the government recognize Covid-19 as an occupational disease for months now.

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Sağlık-Sen health workers' union stated last week that at least 144 health workers had lost their lives since the start of the pandemic.

The number of infected health workers was nearly 30,000 as of early September, according to a statement by Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca. (TP/VK)