Violence-Free Policy: Cyprus Turkish Medical Association
Turkish Cypriot Medical Association Calls for Action Against Increasing Violence in Health
The Turkish Cypriot Medical Association has called on all physicians, dentists and members of the public to participate in a protest action tomorrow in response to the recent knife attack on a physician. In a statement signed by the Board of Directors of the Union, the Association expressed concern over the growing violence in health care and the lack of action to address this trend. The statement also highlighted the threat that public-private partnerships in public hospitals pose to patient data security and the quality of medical care.
Several organized unions and trade unions in health have decided to strike across the island between 09.00 and 13.00 tomorrow, with a march planned to start in front of the Ministry of Health at 10:00 and end in front of the Parliament. The protest will be held under the slogan “If there is violence, there is no service” to protest the increasing violence and demand that regulations be put in place to protect health care workers.
The Nurses and Midwives Union has also expressed support for the strike and called for the implementation of laws on violence in health care. The President of the Nurses and Midwives Union, Ali Özgöçmen, condemned the violence against health care workers and called on the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister to take steps to ensure a safe working environment for health care workers.
The Turkish Cypriot Medical Association’s call to action is a stark reminder of the need to address the growing violence in health care. The organized unions and trade unions in health are taking a necessary step to show their dissatisfaction with the current situation and demand change. It is imperative that the government takes action to ensure the safety of health care workers and improve the quality of medical care for patients.
