Turkish Medical Association calls 2-day strike in mid-March

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The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) held a press conference yesterday (February 22), announcing the further steps to be taken by healthcare workers as part of the "Our Labor, Our Word" action program.

The press conference was attended by TTB Central Council Chair Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, TTB Central Council Secretary General Prof. Vedat Bulut, TTB Central Council member Assoc. Prof. Deniz Erdoğdu, Ankara Medical Chamber Chair Dr. Ali Karakoç and Ankara Medical Chamber Executive Board member Dr. Ayşe Uğurlu.

Addressing the public at the conference, Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı said, "As you know, we have long been expressing the collapse of the healthcare system in Turkey together; we have been standing together for our rights and requests as well as in the struggle for the right to healthcare. Ahead of the Doctor's Day on March 14, we have come together to say, 'All Physicians to Strike (Duty) on March 14-15'. We would like to reiterate that we will definitely get what is our right."

Korur Fincancı unveiled the following action program:

• February 24 - March 20, 2022: TTB Central Council will visit provinces.
• February 26, 2022: TTB General Executive Board will convene.
• March 1, 2022: The press conference of "TTB and medical chambers announce the physicians' requests" will be held.
• March 11, 2022: Mass press statements of "We know who is responsible for the grave consequences of the pandemic" will be held. The Central Council will be in front of the Health Ministry.
• March 11, 2022: In the evening on the same day, in an international online meeting titled "What happened during the pandemic could have been prevented", what was not prevented and what needs to be done for prevention will be discussed.
• March 13, 2022: White Meeting and March will be held in İstanbul.
• March 14-15, 2022: Healthcare workers will be on Great Strike (Duty).
• March 15, 2022: Political Party Groups will be visited.
• March 16, 2022: "A Different Healthcare System: Why, How?" will be discussed at the Dr. Nevzat Eren National Public Health Symposium.
• March 19-20, 2022: Great White Meetings will be held in provinces.

Taking the floor afterwards, Ankara Medical Chamber Chair Dr. Ali Karakoç recalled that physicians and other healthcare workers have been struggling for their rightful demands for the past five months. Noting that their struggle will continue, he said, "I once again call out to those who turn a blind eye or ear to our demands: This struggle will continue until we get our rights."

Some demands of physicians are as follows: "A humane wage that will affect pensions; official recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease for healthcare workers; an end to violence in healthcare; prolonging the duration of medical examination at public health institutions". (AÖ/SD)