UEMO statement in support of Turkish Family Physicians

Approximately 50,500 people died following the earthquake in Turkey on February 6, 2023. However, the real toll is likely to be much higher. According to our Turkish member organization AHEF, the Turkish Ministry of Health has not provided any support to family physicians who have had to ensure the safety of themselves and their families following the earthquake as well as care for their patients.

UEMO fully supports our Turkish colleagues and strongly recommends to the Turkish authorities the implementation of the following post-earthquake reconstruction measures to ensure quality, effective services for patients which includes.

• Income protection for Family Physicians working in earthquake areas.
• New-build mass housing projects compulsorily featuring
  • Sufficient provision of suitably located primary health care services regarding population density.
  • Earthquake resistant design AND construction of family health centre buildings
• Replacement, at government expense, of the medical devices, tools and equipment destroyed or looted following the earthquake.
• Establishment of robust supply lines to family health centres for consumables, disposables and vaccines paid for by the Ministry of Health.