Dentists in Ankara stage mass walkout: 'Don't stay silent, or the shift will come'

Dentists working in Ankara staged a walkout today (February 14) to demand improvements in working conditions and to highlight the loss of their rights. The healthcare workers, who gathered in front of the Provincial Health Directorate, argued that the current system is unsustainable. The protest drew attention to the violence directed at healthcare workers and their heavy working conditions.

The press statement was supported by the Ankara Medical Chamber, the Ankara Chamber of Dentists, the Ankara Family Medicine Association, various health unions, and non-governmental organizations. The physicians carried banners reading 'Teeth cannot be fixed in 5 minutes' and 'Intervene in the system' to express their demands.

During the protest, they carried signs reading 'We pull teeth, we endure trouble, enough is enough, we rebel', 'We cannot fix teeth in 5 minutes, MHRS doesn't know the job', 'Intervene in the system, not the physician', and chanted slogans of 'Don't stay silent, or the shift will come'. Due to the healthcare workers' protest, police teams took security measures in front of the Provincial Health Directorate.

The healthcare workers, who are demanding improvements in their working conditions, made the following statement at the protest held in front of the Ankara Provincial Health Directorate:

'This system, which is based on quantity rather than quality and is impossible to audit or sustain, leaves our colleagues under heavy working conditions, prevents our people from accessing quality oral and dental health services, and threatens public health.'

Hekim Birliği (Physicians' Union) Vice President Özgür Öz stated that the problems in the healthcare system are growing, and said:

''Dentists have become unable to practice their profession in the public sector. Working conditions prevent us from providing quality service to the public. That is why we are carrying out such a protest for the first time.''

Ankara Chamber of Dentists Board Chairman Serkan Er emphasized that heavy working conditions are pushing his colleagues to their limits, and noted the following:

'The healthcare system, which has become increasingly complex over the years, is driving physicians to burnout. This system also prevents the public from accessing quality oral and dental health services.'

CHP Ankara Deputy Aylin Yaman, Saadet Party Deputy Chairman Ahmet Yazıcı, and KESK Co-Chair Ahmet Karagöz also attended the protest to show their support. The dentists stated that they would continue their struggle if their demands are not met.