9-day holiday creates a crisis in healthcare: 10 million patients affected

The extension of the Ramadan Feast holiday has caused a major crisis in the healthcare sector.

According to a report in Sözcü, İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez stated that 10 million patient appointments were cancelled following the extension of the holiday to 9 days. Çömez said, "The cost of this unplanned decision has been heavy. The number of patients whose appointments were cancelled is 10 million. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy appointments for cancer patients were also among those cancelled. Surgeries, imaging, and treatments were also postponed."

Çömez noted that under normal circumstances, April 2, 3, and 4 were working days and many healthcare services were scheduled for these dates. However, the decision by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to make these days part of the holiday led to the postponement of planned healthcare services. Çömez added, "Extending the holiday with a last-minute decision and cancelling services brought not only economic costs but also health-related risks."

Emphasizing that the Minister of Health should disclose the exact figures and economic cost of these cancellations, Çömez pointed out that disruptions in healthcare services could have serious consequences.

News Source: 12punto