Violence against healthcare workers continue in August

A report by a medical union said violence on health professionals continued in August. 

Last month, 29 healthcare workers suffered from violence in 18 incidents, 15 of which were caused by patients and their relatives, said a report by Saglik-Sen (Union of Medical Workers)

According to the report, no action was taken against 6 of the 28 assailants, and 18 of them were released after being briefly taken into custody. 

Most of the attacks against the healthcare employees come from patients and their relatives, said Semih Durmus, the chairman of Saglik-Sen adding that this pierced the health system like a dagger, affecting the quality of healthcare services, and making healthcare workers to do their job in fear. 

Durmus said It also showed the importance of increasing social awareness.

"In many cases the perpetrators are not punished despite the law. This deeply affects the healthcare workers and encourages the aggressors. (...) We can hear the alarm bells ringing in healthcare. Violence in health, which disturbs the society in general, must end now," he said. 

The Ankara Chamber of Doctors said last month that every day seven Turkish doctors left the country as the increase in the violence targeting healthcare workers and the diminishing living standards because of underpaid work have made life more difficult.