Diyarbakır's Health Issues on Parliament's Agenda

DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Sevilay Çelenk has brought the shortage of specialist physicians in public hospitals in the city, teleradiology reporting services, congestion, and the situation of family health centers damaged in the earthquake to the agenda of Parliament.

Health Issues Brought to Parliament's Agenda

DEM Party Diyarbakır MP Sevilay Çelenk brought the procurement of remote reporting services via teleradiology in public hospitals in the city, the shortage of specialist physicians, congestion in hospitals, and problems regarding family health centers damaged in the earthquake to the agenda of Parliament. Çelenk submitted a comprehensive parliamentary question for Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu to answer.

Teleradiology and Remote Reporting Process

As a result of the work carried out with the Board of Directors of the Diyarbakır Medical Chamber, Çelenk brought the problems experienced in the field of health in the city to Parliament, stating that outside teleradiology services are procured for reporting MR and CT scans due to a lack of radiology specialists in some public hospitals. Drawing attention to the problems this practice might cause in terms of patient safety, she emphasized that delays in imaging results and incomplete or incorrect evaluations of reports could lead to delays in diagnosis and incorrect treatments.

Specialist Physician Shortage and Branch Issues

Stating that the shortage of specialist physicians in Diyarbakır is not limited to radiology, Çelenk pointed out that problems are also experienced in branches such as pediatric neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, ear, nose, and throat, and dermatology. She stated that citizens are forced to travel to the city center for examination and treatment due to the inadequacy of specialist physicians, especially in districts, and that examination times sometimes drop below five minutes due to increasing patient density.

Earthquake Damage and Family Health Centers

The parliamentary question also included the status of family health centers damaged in the February 6, 2023 earthquakes. Reminding that some FHCs were demolished, damaged, or forced to move to other buildings due to the earthquake, Çelenk asked whether all centers that went out of service have been rebuilt.