Turhan Çömez issues harsh criticism of Ministry of Health's weight control initiative

Balıkesir MP and General Surgery Specialist Turhan Çömez has harshly criticized the new initiative launched by the Ministry of Health to combat excess weight.

Çömez described the practice of doctors and nurses walking the streets with scales and stadiometers to measure citizens, instead of working in hospitals and Family Health Centers (ASM), as "a lack of planning and rent-seeking."

Emphasizing that there is no scientific basis behind this practice, Çömez said, "There is no such practice in any country in the world. It is incomprehensible to send nurses and doctors to crowded public areas, give them scales and stadiometers, and measure whoever passes by." Furthermore, noting that these measurements should already be performed routinely in primary and secondary healthcare services, Çömez stated, "They claim they will measure 10 million people in 3 months. However, 10 million people already visit ASMs and hospitals in 3 days."

Çömez's remarks have drawn attention as a serious critique of the Ministry of Health's strategy for combating obesity.

??They are doing in the streets what they should be doing in hospitals and ASMs.
??Doctors and nurses are walking from street to street with scales and stadiometers in their hands.
??There is no scientific basis behind it, but there is a great deal of lack of planning and rent-seeking! https://t.co/MlQGGbDrhH pic.twitter.com/MAoMN2XI1B

— Turhan Çömez (@ComezTurhan) May 15, 2025

News Source: 12punto