Joint letter to the Turkish authorities in support of the Turkish Medical Association
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OPEN LETTER
To the attention of:
President of the Republic of Turkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (contact@tccb.gov.tr)
Minister of Justice, Mr. Yılmaz Tunç (info@adalet.gov.tr)
Minister of Health, Mr. Fahrettin Koca (ozelburo@saglik.gov.tr)
Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mr. Mehmet Şimşek (info@hmb.gov.tr)
12 June 2023
Your Excellency,
Re: Hearing of Turkish Medical Association on 22 June 2023
We are writing to you on behalf of the World Medical Association (WMA) and the Standing
Committee of European Doctors (CPME), representing together millions of physicians in Europe and
across the world with the shared professional commitment to medical ethics, human rights and peace.
We are deeply concerned by the hearing of the Turkish Medical Association (TMA) to be held on 22
June 2023 that aims to dismiss the eleven members of TMA’s Executive Council from their duty. We
do not see any evidence supporting the arbitrary charges they are accused of.
The TMA has been a trustworthy member of both our organizations for many years, recognized for
its commitment to serve public health interests, to protect patients and physicians with great respect
of the ethical values of the profession.
The delivery of healthcare by physicians is governed by ethical rules, professional norms as well as
national and international law. Their autonomy allows the best delivery of healthcare, thus fostering
more robust public health policies for the benefit of all. An independent representation of the medical
profession is paramount in the implementation of these unchallenged principles. It can furthermore
act as a unique voice of the civil society, fostering the democratic integrity of a country and
complementing the work of elected officials and administrators.
Hence, independent, autonomous and democratic national medical associations, such as the TMA,
constitute indispensable overarching medical bodies fulfilling a crucial role not only for the medical
profession, but for patients, the healthcare system and the population as a whole.
The global medical community therefore urges you to unconditionally safeguard the autonomy and
independence of the TMA, to deliver justice fairly and impartially and drop all charges against its
members.
Your sincerely,
Dr. Osahon Enabulele Dr Christiaan Keijzer
WMA President CPME President