Are family health centers open or closed today, Tuesday, January 7? Are family physicians on strike, and why are they striking?

Citizens who plan to visit family health centers this week to get prescriptions or for illnesses have begun to wonder whether family physicians are on strike today. Following the statement made by the Turkish Medical Association, family physicians were expected to go on strike this week. So, are family health centers open or closed on Tuesday, January 7 (today)? Are family physicians working today?

ARE FAMILY PHYSICIANS ON STRIKE?

According to the statement made by the Turkish Medical Association, family physicians will be on strike between January 6 and January 10. This means that family physicians will not be providing services for 5 days.

Healthcare workers in the second and third tiers will participate in the strike for only 1 day on Wednesday, January 8.

WHY ARE FAMILY PHYSICIANS ON STRIKE?

Healthcare workers gathered in front of the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate and demanded the withdrawal of the new performance-based system in the Family Medicine Regulation.

The demands of the striking family physicians also include the prevention of violence in healthcare. Physicians point out that the regulation could lead to the commercialization of the health sector.

The action by family physicians will continue until December 6. During this process, physicians will organize protests at a different location each day.

TURKISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED

The statement made by the Turkish Medical Association is as follows;

In this context, as the organizations that met on the evening of December 10 and whose signatures are below, we declare that we will hold a five-day work stoppage in primary care between January 6-10, and that we call on our members working in the second and third tiers to hold a one-day work stoppage on Wednesday, January 8, within the same week, for our professional dignity and public health.

WILL FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS BE OPEN THIS WEEK?

Due to the strike to be held between January 6-10, 2025, family health centers are expected to be closed, as they were during previous strikes.

It is stated that citizens should call the relevant institutions to obtain information before going to a family health center between these dates.