Health Workers' Day of Struggle: Work Stoppage Action on March 14 Medicine Day
March 14 Medicine Day offers an important opportunity to draw attention to the problems of healthcare workers and to voice their demands. This year, 17 health labor professional organizations, organized a work stoppage to raise their voices against injustices and hardships in the healthcare system. Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine The press release held on the campus was an important event to announce to the public the difficulties and demands of healthcare professionals.
Negative Effects of Trade in Healthcare
The healthcare system has become increasingly commercial in recent years. This has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients and healthcare professionals. “Trade in health means death” slogans were chanted. This shows the deep concern of health workers about the problems brought about by the privatization and commercialization of health services.
The Struggle for a Public Health System
In the press release, first Dr. Mine Coşkun, President of Ankara Medical Chamber Coşkun took the floor. Emphasizing that the health system should be transformed into a public structure, “Another health system that is pro-people and pro-labor is possible” He used the expression. The situation of health services in our country has gradually deteriorated with the transformation programs implemented since 2003. Violence and mobbing in health care seriously damage the morale and motivation of health workers.
The Problem of Violence and Mobbing
Healthcare workers face violence and mobbing every day. Code White Since the implementation of the application, at least 122 thousand violence reports have been made. This situation shows that healthcare professionals cannot work in a safe environment and their workload has increased. Neglecting preventive healthcare services and budget constraints are causing the healthcare system to deteriorate further.
Requests of Family Physicians
At the event, Federation of Family Physicians Associations Ali Demir also took the floor on behalf of the family physicians. Demir drew attention to the problems experienced by family physicians, “Don’t touch my prescription” He expressed his demands by saying, “The working conditions of family physicians should be improved.” Demir stated that, “We will not give up until the torture regulation is withdrawn” He gave a message as follows.
Working Conditions Need to Be Improved
Ahmet Kandemir, President of the Family Medicine Workers Union stated that healthcare professionals are fighting hard to protect their rights. Kandemir, “While we work with all our might to relieve the suffering of our patients, we see that our own rights are not protected” He expressed the difficulties experienced by healthcare professionals.
Safe and Humane Working Conditions
Derya Mengücük, President of the Union of Unity and Solidarity, demanded equal and fair health services for health workers. Mengücük, “We insist on equal, fair, accessible and free health care for everyone” He emphasized that healthcare workers should receive what they deserve. In this context, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that healthcare workers can work in safe and humane conditions.
Increased Workload and Neglect of Protective Services
Ankara Dentists Chamber Board of Directors Treasurer Dağhan ErbazHe stated that preventive dentistry is ignored and that the health system leaves health workers with a superhuman workload. Serap Karatüzün, President of the Federation of Family Health Workers Midwives and Nurses Associations of “We have become unable to do our jobs” He stated that the current state of the health system is not sustainable.
Disease Detection and Solution Suggestions
General Health-İş General President Dr. Derya Uğur, drew attention to the difficulties experienced by healthcare workers and offered urgent solutions to the government. Uğur stated that the current state of the healthcare system is sick, “This dire situation is sick” He also emphasized that necessary steps should be taken to protect the rights of healthcare professionals.
Protecting the Honor of Medicine
Yakup Gökhan Doğramacı from the Medical Association, stating that they are struggling with the problems in the health system, “We are here to protect our labor” Emphasizing the importance of the day of defending the honor of physicians, Doğramacı drew attention to the importance of unity in overcoming the difficulties experienced by healthcare professionals.
The Need for a New Health System
Turkish Medical Association President Prof. Dr. Alpay Azap, stated that healthcare professionals work with great dedication and that another healthcare system is possible. Azap, “This pessimistic picture may change” He drew attention to the importance of reforms to be made in the health system by saying, Meeting the demands of health workers is necessary for a better health system.
