The Newborn Gang

Suay KARAMAN

Decay is manifesting itself in every field in our country. This decay has reached massive proportions, especially under the AKP government. Our country has become a paradise for 'gangs,' and now the 'Newborn Gang' incident has emerged. First, it was revealed that neonatal intensive care units in certain private hospitals in Istanbul were being rented out, leading to infant deaths due to inhumane and unsuitable conditions. Thus, the gang that was generating illicit profits has been exposed for now. However, if a more detailed investigation is conducted, it may be possible to uncover this gang's connections to organ trafficking and similar activities.

Although an investigation was launched by the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on May 21, 2023, and the incident was brought to the public's attention about six months prior, the indictment was only prepared on October 16, 2024. No sufficient explanation has been provided as to why arrests were only initiated 17 months later in such a horrific case. It is also necessary to disclose how many babies died during these 17 months and how much illicit profit was generated. Of the 47 suspects detained to date, 22 have been arrested, and the trial is ongoing. The private hospitals involved have been closed for now, but it is on the agenda that these private hospitals will eventually be reopened by cronies after their names are changed.

The indictment revealed that hospitals were obtaining illicit profits from the Social Security Institution by leaving babies to die at the hands of doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers. Among the hospitals to which the babies were referred is the Private Avcılar Hospital, owned by former Minister of Health Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, who served between 2013 and 2016. The prepared indictment also included Medilife Beylikdüzü Hospital and the hospital's chief physician, Dr. Ahmet Atilla Yılmaz. Dr. Ahmet Atilla Yılmaz serves as a CHP Beylikdüzü and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council Member, and is also the head of the Metropolitan Municipality's Health and Epidemic Diseases Commission. Dr. Ahmet Atilla Yılmaz was an AKP Beylikdüzü mayoral candidate nominee in the March 30, 2014 local elections and an AKP Gümüşhane parliamentary candidate nominee in the June 7, 2015 general elections. Murat Mantuş, the former chief of security for the MHP leader, will also be tried as a member of the gang. Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, who served as the Istanbul Provincial Health Director between 2016 and 2024, also bears responsibility for these events.

Dr. Fırat Sarı, a Reyap Hospital employee and owner of the Medisense company, who was convicted of membership in the PKK terrorist organization while in medical school and served approximately 5 years in prison before graduating after his release, is among the primary perpetrators of these events. Defending this person is now the responsibility of the newly elected Istanbul Bar Association management. What else someone who served time for being in a terrorist organization and their likes have done should also be investigated.

It is clear that after the incident was reflected in the public eye, it was of a nature incompatible with medical and humanitarian values, and that the responsible individuals and institutions must be punished in the harshest way possible. However, the prosecutor conducting the investigation was threatened by gang members; the relationship between this gang and the government is noteworthy. For this reason, doubts have already begun regarding the sentences the perpetrators of the incident will receive.

Following this incident, information began to emerge that illicit profits were being generated and infant deaths were being caused using the same methods in certain private hospitals in Antalya, Kocaeli, Niğde, and Sakarya as well. Families who lost their babies in private hospitals did not receive responses to their complaints and reports. With a detailed search, it will be seen that similar incidents exist in many parts of our country. This is because unethical and illegal transactions have become the norm and are seen in almost all institutions.

The Newborn Gang incident is one of the horrific consequences of the market-oriented transformation in healthcare; it is very clear that the policies implemented in line with the 'Health Transformation Program' are not for the benefit of the public and have had devastating results on the healthcare system. The solution is the nationalization of healthcare services. Because a patient is a patient in public hospitals, but a customer in private hospitals, just as students in public universities are customers in private universities...

During the May 27, 1960 Revolution, Prof. Dr. Nusret Fişek, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, was tasked by the National Unity Committee to work on establishing a new healthcare system. Preparations for a universal and inclusive healthcare system that prioritized primary care were made, and the 'Law on the Socialization of Health Services' was enacted on January 5, 1961. This Law No. 224 was published in the Official Gazette on January 12, 1961, and became law. Thus, the socialization of health services was ensured throughout Turkey, and a public-oriented, free healthcare system was put into effect. Over time, the implementation of this law was abandoned, and the robbery process in healthcare began, especially after the September 12, 1980 coup. As a solution, healthcare services must be nationalized, and an accessible, equal, free, and qualified healthcare system must be implemented.

Every day in our country, we witness developments that are terrifying, horrific, and alarming, deeply wounding the public conscience. While we ask how street animals are being slaughtered, we see that newborn babies are being killed by the system established by the political power. We are watching what is happening with great anger, sadness, and shame on behalf of humanity. For this dirty order to end, all opposition parties must come together and meet on common ground.

We must not forget these words of our unique leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who said, "Protecting the homeland begins with protecting children," regarding our children: "Little ladies, little gentlemen; you are all a rose, a star, and a light of prosperity for the future. You are the ones who will truly flood the country with light. Think about how important and valuable you are and work accordingly. We expect much from you." Fighting together for our children is our debt to our future.

News Source: 12punto