Ankara Chamber of Medicine (ATO) has informed on Monday that at least 18 healthcare workers in Turkey’s Ankara tested positive for rapidly spreading pandemic novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Pointing out that 18 positive cases are only those that have been confirmed so far, ATO stated, ‘‘Unconfirmed information we received indicates that the number of infected healthcare professionals is much higher than this figure.’’
‘‘Healthcare workers can protect their own health along with community health only if they can access the necessary and exact information,’’ said ATO, calling the Ministry of Health to be transparent and share the correct information with all segments of society and healthcare professionals.
ATO also warned that the Turkish authorities must regularly test the healthcare workers fighting against COVID-19, and provide them with necessary protective equipment.
TURKISH AUTHORITIES CUT SALARIES OF FAMILY PRACTITIONERS QUARANTINED OR INFECTED BY COVID-19
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Federation of Family Physicians Associations (AHEF) stated that the Turkish government cuts the salaries of family practitioners who have been put in quarantine or tested positive for COVID-19 while struggling to treat the patients even if they receive medical reports.
‘‘As physicians, we are punished by the authorities for getting infected although we risk our lives to fight against this pandemic,’’ Dr. Özlem Sezen, The Head of AHEF, noted.
Telling that most of the family physicians could not work in their regular working hours due to the disease, Sezen concluded, ‘‘The government authorities ask us to find another physician or family healthcare worker to work instead of infected or quarantined family physicians even in such a period. If we cannot find alternative physicians, the government cuts their salaries by the number of days they didn’t work.’’
As rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic also hits one of the most vulnerable professionals ─ doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers ─ fighting against the outbreak, experts had informed that at least 24 family practitioners and nurses only in Turkey’s Istanbul tested positive for the virus.
As of March 30, 168 people lost their lives due to COVID-19 in Turkey, while there are a total of 10,827 cases nationwide.
As more than 750,000 people have been infected by the pandemic, the number of deaths is at least 36,230 worldwide.
