President Tayyip Erdogan has urged Turkey's parliament to legislate to curb the influence of medical associations and other institutions that have criticised his government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, reports Daily Maverick.
This broadside against the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) came after months of warnings by the group that official figures underplay the true scale of the pandemic, especially Ankara’s decision to report only symptomatic cases of COVID-19.
The TTB has called for more transparency and coordination from the government, as well as more aggressive measures to contain the outbreak and protect medical workers. The government has defended its response and said the public sees the key case figures.
Erdogan said on Wednesday the regulatory change would allow better representation of doctors than through solely the TTB, and should be enacted swiftly as a top priority for parliament.
Daily Maverick reports that rights groups and Turkey’s Western allies have criticised what they see as increasing authoritarianism and threats to the rule of law under Erdogan, especially since a 2016 coup attempt that prompted sweeping crackdowns on his perceived opponents in public services, the military and elsewhere.
[link url="https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-15-erdogan-urges-parliament-act-to-curb-medical-group-critical-of-turkeys-covid-response/?"]Full Daily Maverick report[/link]