He said 'he was trying to write prescriptions': Turkish Pharmacists Association condemns Berhan Şimşek for targeting Özgür Özel

The remarks made by Berhan Şimşek, who took on the role of deputy to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu—who was brought to the CHP Chairmanship by a decision of absolute nullity—regarding the pharmacy background of the CHP's elected Chairman Özgür Özel during a television program, have caused discomfort within the professional community.

During the program, Şimşek had stated, "While we were engaged in politics within the CHP, Özgür Özel was in his pharmacy in Manisa, trying to write prescriptions as a pharmacy assistant. We don't know how many needles Özgür Özel broke while giving intramuscular injections at his pharmacy in Manisa."

A harsh response to these statements came from the Turkish Pharmacists Association (TEB). In a statement dated June 12, 2026, it was emphasized that such expressions targeting the reputation of the pharmacy profession are unacceptable. The TEB statement read: "The sentences constructed by Berhan Şimşek in a television program on June 12, 2026, regarding Pharmacist Özgür Özel through the lens of pharmacy, have been met with reaction by our professional community. The pharmacy profession is an ancient public health service that centers on science and ethics. It cannot be made into material for daily and political debates, and we will not allow this. Furthermore, the expressions used are pathetic sentences aimed at belittling our colleagues working in our pharmacies. We do not accept these grave statements and we condemn them."