Outrage from health organizations grows! 'Koca should make that hand gesture to private hospital bosses'

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca faced backlash for making a money-counting gesture while responding to criticism regarding the migration of doctors during the ministry's budget deliberations at the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee, saying, "It is not because of us." 

Koca also stated in his remarks at the Committee that those obtaining certificates of good standing were going to Gulf countries, and that those leaving accounted for 2 to 3 per thousand. 

According to the report in BirGün; health organizations announced in statements that they condemned Minister Koca for his "money counting" gesture.

"WE ARE ASHAMED!"

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB), in a statement reacting to Minister Koca's attitude, said, "We are ashamed." In a post shared on the TTB's social media account, the note read: "The Health Minister's 'analysis' regarding why physicians are migrating in our country, where violence in healthcare and physician suicides are escalating, hopelessness and lack of a future are deepening, and foreign language books are replacing medical textbooks in faculties… We are ashamed!"

"THEY ARE LEAVING BECAUSE YOU DO NOT FULFILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES"

In a statement made by the Health and Social Service Workers Union (SES), it was said: "Your accusation of those who worked with heart and soul despite the lack of protective equipment in intensive care units during the pandemic and the earthquake as 'money-lovers' while your administrators were hiding in their offices will never be forgotten."

The following expressions were used in the SES statement: "Mr. Minister, as you indicated, physicians are not leaving this country for money. Healthcare workers are leaving because you do not create safe working environments and because you have left the healthcare system in ruins. They are leaving because you and your bureaucrats do not fulfill your duties and responsibilities."

"MAKE THAT GESTURE TO THE BOSSES"

The Health Workers Rights and Struggle Association used the following expressions in their post: "Health Minister Fahrettin Koca showed the reason for physician migration by gesturing with his hand. Let us state the reasons why healthcare workers are leaving: Low salaries, 5 different payment systems, high rents, low overtime pay, being subjected to violence on duty..."

TKP-affiliated Health Workers reacted to the Minister, who claimed that doctors were going abroad for higher earnings, with a statement titled "Minister Koca should make that hand gesture to private hospital bosses." Stating that Minister Koca confessed how he views healthcare services with the hand gesture he made, the statement drew attention to private hospital bosses blinded by greed, religious sects, and bureaucrats, pointing out who the gesture should actually be directed at.