Nearly a hundred professional organisations, led by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), organised a rally in Istanbul on Sunday 8 January, against changes that would restrict self-employment for doctors.

Coming from all provinces of Turkey and meeting at Pier Square in Kadıköy, the doctors unfurled a banner reading 'We will not give up our professional independence and our right to self-employment'.

The physicians complained that regulatory changes made by the Ministry of Health on 6 October attacked the professional independence of physicians and the right to self-employment.

Güray Kılıç, member of the Private Medicine Commission of the Istanbul Medical Chamber (speaking at 00:24-01:43): "We are defending our right to self-employment and our professional independence. Withdraw the 6 October and 7 January regulations. The Ministry of Health attacked the professional independence of physicians and the right to self-employment with the regulation changes made on October 6, 2022. According to this regulation; As of January 7, 2023, physicians who exercise their right to self-employment will have to interrupt the treatment of their patients if they do not have a contract with private health institutions and will not be able to care for their patients again. Only very few physicians will be able to make a contract with these institutions. For this reason, the regulations on the lawsuits we filed and the activities carried out were changed again on January 7, 2023. According to this; The condition of making an annual contract with only one (1) hospital for all physicians has not been changed, but only under certain conditions, with the permission of the Provincial Health Directorates, surgeries are allowed to be performed in non-contracted hospitals."

Member of the Private Medicine Branch of the Turkish Medical Association, Prof. Dr. Nursel Sahin (at 02:31-02:57): “We have been facing a government that has coveted physicians, Turkey's understanding of 'communal health', public health, our professional independence, and our right to self-employment for a very long time. We know that it is the 'Global health capital' that enables this government to take these decisions.”

The crowd also chanted slogans.

"Our right to be a physician cannot be denied." (01:43-01:43 in the video)

"Our right to self-employment cannot be restricted." (02:57-03:10)

"Together we will win." (03:24-03:33)

This footage was filmed and produced 8 January 2023.

Nearly a hundred professional organizations, especially the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), organized a Great Physician Meeting for the independence of profession and the right to self-employment. Coming from all provinces of Turkey and meeting at the Pier Square in Kadıköy, the doctors unfurled a banner reading "We will not give up our professional independence and our right to self-employment". Physicians reacted to the law by stating that with the regulation changes made by the Ministry of Health on October 6, 2022, it attacked the professional independence of physicians and the right to self-employment.

00:24:38 - 01:43:23
Güray Kılıç, member of the Private Medicine Commission of the Istanbul Medical Chamber:
"We defending our right to self-employment and our professional independence. Withdraw the 6 October and 7 January regulations. The Ministry of Health attacked the professional independence of physicians and the right to self-employment with the regulation changes made on October 6, 2022. According to this regulation; As of January 7, 2023, physicians who exercise their right to self-employment will have to interrupt the treatment of their patients if they do not have a contract with private health institutions and will not be able to care for their patients again. Only very few physicians will be able to make a contract with these institutions. For this reason, the regulations on the lawsuits we filed and the activities carried out were changed again on January 7, 2023. According to this; The condition of making an annual contract with only one (1) hospital for all physicians has not been changed, but only under certain conditions, with the permission of the Provincial Health Directorates, surgeries are allowed to be performed in non-contracted hospitals."

02:31:30 - 02:57:36
Member of the Private Medicine Branch of the Turkish Medical Association, Prof. Dr. Nursel Sahin:
“We have been facing a government that has coveted physicians, Turkey's understanding of 'communal health', public health, our professional independence, and our right to self-employment for a very long time. We know that it is the 'Global health capital' that enables this government to take these decisions.”

01:43:23 - 01:43:23
Slogan: "Our right to be a physician cannot be denied."

02:57:36 - 03:10:34
Slogan: "Our right to self-employment cannot be restricted."

03:24:42 - 03:33:36
"Together we will win."