Scandalous discrimination claim: No medicine for cancer patients over 65!

CHP Bursa Deputy and Medical Faculty member Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala has reacted strongly to a discriminatory practice implemented by the Social Security Institution (SGK) through its Health Implementation Communiqué (SUT), which prevents patients diagnosed with cancer after the age of 65 from accessing certain medications. Pala stated that this situation is a violation of a fundamental right to health and called on the Ministry of Health to urgently reverse this error.

AGE LIMIT HINDERS THE RIGHT TO HEALTH

In a statement made via social media, Kayıhan Pala said:

"There is no medicine for those diagnosed with #cancer after the age of 65! This discriminatory practice that hinders the right to health must be changed immediately!" he said, bringing the situation to the public's attention.

After the age of 65 #cancer for those diagnosed #medicine not available!
This discriminatory practice that obstructs the right to health must be changed immediately!@csgbakanligi? pic.twitter.com/32asVbWIe8

— Kayıhan Pala (@KAYIHANPALA) November 4, 2025

Pala stated that the SGK, citing the relevant article in the SUT, is denying life-saving, expensive medications to patients over 65, particularly for certain types of cancer such as kidney cancer.  stated that it does not provide them.

"THERE IS NO SUCH NONSENSE, IT IS A SOURCE OF SHAME!"

Emphasizing that this practice is unacceptable, Pala summarized the issue with the following words:

"For the SGK to say, 'You are over 65, I will not give you this medicine,' means preventing a citizen from accessing medication."

Pala stated that it is a great source of shame for a retiree who has served the Republic of Turkey for many years to be unable to access medicine, and that this situation must be rectified immediately.

Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala called on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, demanding that this practice, which restricts the right to health based on age, be changed as soon as possible and that the barriers to treatment access for all cancer patients be removed.

News Source: 12punto