The Minister said it would be 'free', it became 10,000 TL: 'The state must cover it'

Aslı AĞIRDİL - 12punto.com.tr

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer and genital warts. Known as the most common sexually transmitted virus worldwide, HPV is known to have more than 200 types. HPV can lead to cervical cancer in women and penile, anal, and throat cancers in men. While HPV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, it can also be transmitted through very close physical contact even without full sexual intercourse.

The most effective and reliable method to protect against the HPV virus is vaccination. The HPV vaccine can be administered to girls and boys starting from the age of 9. Two doses of the HPV vaccine are recommended for ages 9-14 (including age 14). Three doses of the HPV vaccine are recommended for ages 14-26 (including age 26). All doses must be completed for the best protection.

Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca stated during the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Planning and Budget Committee meetings on November 24, 2022, that "HPV vaccinations will begin shortly." On November 10, 2023, while emphasizing the production of a "domestic HPV vaccine," Koca said, "Negotiations with companies for supply are ongoing. We are asking for support from producers to strengthen our hand in negotiations with the companies." However, not only has no step been taken regarding the free HPV vaccine, but with the price hike on December 25, the three-dose vaccine reached approximately 10,000 TL. Speaking to 12Punto, Children and Women First Association Lawyer Çisel Demirkan and Pharmacist Cem Kılınç drew attention to HPV-related cancer cases.

THERE IS A CLASS-BASED BARRIER

Stating that the price of one dose has risen to 3,229 TL and that it should be covered by the state, Kılınç stated the following:

"When we started the struggle, the cost of the vaccine was 695 TL. With the hike on December 25, one dose rose to 3,229 TL. When three doses are administered, it is almost the amount of the minimum wage. Students, working women, and children cannot access the vaccine. Go ahead and pay 10,000 liras for 3 doses and buy these vaccines. You cannot buy them because there is a class-based barrier here. Therefore, the state must cover this. The HPV vaccine is the only vaccine that eliminates cancer and prevents it before it occurs. It also protects against cervical cancer. The only cause of cervical cancer is the HPV virus. Therefore, while there is such clear scientific information and it has been offered to citizens for free in more than a hundred countries around the world for years, there are of course political reasons why it is not offered in our country."

1,250 PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES TO HPV-RELATED CANCERS ANNUALLY

"It is known that in unvaccinated populations, 80 percent of women and 90 percent of men contract an HPV infection in their lifetime. The risk of a woman contracting an HPV infection during her first sexual experience is 46 percent, but this rate is for unvaccinated populations. According to figures announced by specialist associations, 1,250 people lose their lives to HPV-related cancers annually. What we mean when we say vaccination must start immediately is actually our desire to protect children against cancers they will experience 10-15 years later if they catch HPV today."

HPV-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS FACE SOCIAL PRESSURE

Stating that many people come with stories of victimization, Kılınç said;

"Unfortunately, in our country, many people have been subjected to derogatory remarks even in state institutions where women go for screening. We recently witnessed a female university student being expelled from a dormitory at a KYK Dormitory in Kocaeli because she was at risk of being HPV positive. The university student, who was victimized both by being stigmatized and kicked out, reached out to the women's solidarity committees we struggle with. And our friends in the committees followed up on the issue. Public pressure was created. This situation caused the mistake to be reversed, and our friend was able to return to her dormitory."

Kılınç also added;

"We know that HPV-positive individuals unfortunately experience many mental health problems due to social pressure. Problems such as anxiety, depression, fear of cancer, and loss of self-respect. I observed that most of them use antidepressants. We told them; 'No, do not be angry with yourself, your partner, or the sexual experience you had; the ones you should be angry with are those who should have vaccinated you at age 9. Give your anger to us, come let us get our right to health together.' In this way, we offered them a perspective," he said.

THERE IS A HUGE PROFIT MARGIN

Children and Women First Association Lawyer Çisel Demirkan Sakallı announced in her evaluation of the issue that they will continue their legal struggle.

"There are many lawsuits we have filed regarding the current vaccination campaign. Of course, we continue to file applications. We do not have an option or preference to take a step back from this. However, we were not expecting capitalism, which makes such serious profits from a vaccine and what it brings, to gift it to the working and poor people. Moreover, the same minister was the one who said 'I trust my daughter' when a vaccine proposal was made a few years ago. The same minister was the one who said in another statement, 'We will only administer the vaccine to certain groups.' According to this perspective, it is out of the question to vaccinate girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 14. They are not even aware that the vaccine prevents many bacteria, cancers, and warts. They look at it with a very reactionary perspective. Despite this, there is a huge profit margin. Why would they give it up?"

"Our calls and demands still continue. A lot of people are reaching out to us. We will not give up the struggle until the vaccine is free. Eventually, they will have to make this vaccine free."

FILING A LAWSUIT IS NOT ENOUGH

Stating that the case will not be won just by filing a lawsuit or initiating a judicial process, Sakallı said, "We can only win when we learn to struggle in an organized manner and demand our rights in an organized way. The lawsuits we have filed for HPV vaccines cannot go beyond just expressing a reaction. When we act in an organized manner, when we learn to struggle, we will be able to take back our human rights. If we can get past this, I think people will understand the struggle more clearly," she said.

HPV QUESTION TO MINISTER KOCA FROM IYI PARTY

The price hikes on the HPV vaccine have been brought to the parliamentary agenda. IYI Party Deputy Chairman Buğra Kavuncu prepared a parliamentary question for Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca to answer regarding the price hikes on HPV vaccines and the vaccination program.

Kavuncu's questions to Fahrettin Koca are as follows:

What is the number of all diseases, especially cervical cancer, caused by the HPV virus, specifically in our country?

Despite the Minister of Health's announcement that it would be free, why has no progress been made on the issue in the intervening time? Is the only reason for this that negotiations with supplier companies are ongoing?

On such a critical issue concerning public health, are supplier companies creating obstacles; if so, will the Ministry provide information on the matter?

Despite the announcement that the HPV vaccine would be free, is there not a formula that would at least prevent the price hikes, let alone the vaccines being free? For is it not being considered that many people could potentially face such a health problem and that public health will be under threat due to financial impossibility and lack of awareness?

The Nigerian government launched a vaccination campaign against cervical cancer in October in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and 4.7 million girls were vaccinated in the first phase within two months. The target number is 7.7 million. HPV vaccines are included in the national immunization programs of 87 countries, including different countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, and the United Arab Emirates. Does Turkey have such a program target, and if so, has a calendar been prepared and will it be shared with the public?

News Source: Aslı Ağırdil