Turkey's Health Budget Skewed Towards Profit, Neglecting Earthquake Zones

At Cumhuriyet, we are sounding the alarm on a critical issue that strikes at the heart of our nation's priorities: the stark imbalance in healthcare resource allocation. While our fellow citizens in the earthquake-devastated regions continue to grapple with inadequate health services, operating out of temporary facilities for over three and a half years, a staggering amount of public funds is being channeled into the construction of new city hospitals. Dr. Ali Kanatlı of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has brought forth damning figures that expose this disturbing trend. He reveals that while 109 health facilities in the earthquake zone were allocated around 40 billion TL, the recently opened Aydın City Hospital alone incurred a cost of 60 billion TL. This disparity is not merely a matter of numbers; it represents a fundamental misdirection of resources. The projected expenditure for city hospitals in the coming three years—a colossal 444 billion TL for 18 facilities—dwarfs the total investment in critical areas affected by the devastating earthquakes. This allocation strategy, as Dr. Kanatlı forcefully argues, demonstrates that the health budget is being utilized not for the welfare of citizens but for the enrichment of specific interests. The tragic example of the Defne hospital, which suffered severe damage and loss of life during the earthquake despite prior warnings about its foundation, serves as a grim testament to the consequences of prioritizing construction over safety and necessity. We, at Cumhuriyet, believe that true national solidarity requires us to address the immediate and pressing needs of our most vulnerable populations first. The current approach not only neglects the urgent requirements of earthquake survivors but also raises serious questions about accountability and the ethical use of public funds.

“

We made serious warnings about the ground before the hospital was built, but they were not heeded. The hospital was built and heavily damaged in the earthquake. People lost their lives inside. This is not only loss of life but also the destruction of a huge public resource.