Backlash from Faculty of Agriculture management and students against City Hospital project

Rumors that a city hospital would be built on 185 decares of applied agricultural land at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University have caused major controversy within the university and the city. 

The academic management and students of the university's Faculty of Agriculture have strongly opposed the idea of building a hospital on this land, where they receive training and conduct research.

CHP Tokat Deputy Kadim Durmaz also intervened in the matter, stating that while he acknowledges the need for a city hospital, it is not appropriate to build it on agricultural land.

"THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO"

Stating that they believe it would be more beneficial to plan the city hospital in a location with solid ground, away from arable land, Durmaz said, “The foundation of Gaziosmanpaşa University in Tokat was built upon the Faculty of Agriculture, which was brought from Sivas in 1986 if I am not mistaken, and it gained university status in 1992. 

Therefore, we must protect this practice garden, which is a laboratory where many agricultural food products are produced and contributed to Turkish agriculture, and which contains experimental gardens and special vegetable and fruit areas, from the project we are talking about. This is what we are objecting to. 

I believe that if the newly elected mayor, the city administrator, council members, our governor, our provincial general assembly members, civil society organizations and professional chambers in this city, along with technical experts who will plan the city's future for the next 50 years regarding traffic, come together to plan the city hospital in a location with solid ground and away from arable land, it will be beneficial for our country and our city. This is the right thing to do,” he said.

"NONE OF OUR STAFF ARE PLEASED"

Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Agriculture Acting Dean Prof. Dr. Rüstem Cangi stated that the agricultural land used by the faculty as a research and training area is not suitable for a city hospital. 

Emphasizing that existing facilities are important for the continuation of education quality and research, Cangi requested that the city hospital be built in a different, more suitable area.

Students also expressed that they do not find it right to use agricultural land as a hospital, and voiced concerns about how working in their practice areas would be affected during this process.