Turkish Cypriot Medical Association Hangs Black Flag Over Medical Services Law

On February 25, the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association hung a black flag on its building in Northern Cyprus, protesting against amendments to the Medical Services Department Law. The association urged MPs to reject the document in its current version.

According to the association, the final version of the amendments fails to provide effective entry control and supervision in the specialist doctor training system. The organization believes that granting specializations under these rules poses risks to public health and stated it would not support the law as it stands.

The association emphasized the need for a centralized, objective, and transparent exam for admission to specialization. Admission without an exam or objective criteria, in its assessment, creates risks to professional competence and the principle of equality. Recent allegations of potential enrollment irregularities in Turkey were mentioned to illustrate these concerns.

It was noted that the existing infrastructure, academic staff, and clinical case volume in Northern Cyprus are insufficient for full-scale quality training. To maintain quality, it was proposed that training be partially completed in hospitals outside Cyprus. The association insists on regular independent audits of training centers with mandatory results and the possibility of closure if serious deficiencies are identified.

The organization stated that every MP voting "yes" assumes responsibility for the potential consequences and once again called for a "no" vote on the law in its current form.