Scandal in healthcare! Food couriers transported blood: Some samples lost

It has emerged that blood samples taken from Family Health Centers were transported by couriers working for food delivery companies under conditions that did not comply with specifications, and that some samples were lost during these transports.

"THERE IS A MAJOR DEFICIENCY IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM"

Announcing this major healthcare scandal on his YouTube channel, journalist Emrullah Erdinç stated that the incident closely concerns everyone who visits family health centers in Istanbul.

Sharing footage of blood samples taken from centers being transported by food company couriers in violation of specifications, Erdinç said, "We see that there is a major deficiency in our healthcare system regarding blood transport. The people transporting the blood are couriers belonging to food companies that have apps on the internet."

THEY PUT THE BLOOD IN BAGS RANDOMLY

Sharing the footage of couriers coming to family health centers to collect blood samples, Erdinç said, "We see that the blood is being collected haphazardly. When blood is transported, it must be placed inside a special box. Filling it into a bag like this is absolutely not appropriate. Experts also object to this footage."

"THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH CONFIRMED THE SCANDAL"

Erdinç said, "If this blood is transported like this for a long time and not transported in a sterile manner, it can give erroneous results. Because these blood values are compromised, incorrect treatment methods may be resorted to." Stating that he received a call from the Provincial Health Directorate and that all authorities, including the Ministry of Health, confirmed this scandal, Erdinç said, "Unfortunately, the officials I spoke to said that such transport had taken place and that there was a chain of negligence."

STATEMENT FROM THE PROVINCIAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE

On the other hand, the response from the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate to the post made by journalist Emrullah Erdinc on X was not delayed. The statement included the following expressions:

"There is a need to inform the public regarding the footage titled 'Shocking Scandal in Healthcare' shared on social media today. The irregularities alleged in the subject footage were identified by us in October 2024 and recorded by the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate. Within the scope of the 2025 Laboratory Sample Transfer Courier Service Procurement, sample transfer service between health facilities is carried out by the contractor firm.

Within the scope of the service procurement carried out by our Directorate under Public Procurement Law No. 4734, necessary examinations were conducted, 74 separate reports were issued regarding the irregularities by the firm, and a total fine of 520 thousand TL was imposed as the highest level of punitive sanction that can be applied within the framework of the legislation.

It is impossible to ignore any negligence concerning public health. As the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, we continue to carry out our inspections without interruption. Furthermore, there is currently no disruption or irregularity regarding sample transfer."

News Source: 12punto