Deputies’ health costs raise budget

Health expenses of former deputies and their family members have reached 60 million Turkish Liras, an amount that prompted a special allocation from the parliament’s 2012 budget. The budget increased 27 percent from 513 million liras in 2011 to 651 million liras in 2012.

The parliamentary budget increase was mostly due to a new building for public relations costing 56 million liras, 5 million liras for several refurbishments and renewal of cameras and electronic system in the general assembly hall costing 9.5 million. Apart from construction works, the biggest increase was the health expenses of former deputies.

This expense categorized under the title “Transfers to households” had a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year. Sixty million liras are allocated for treatment expenses of former deputies and their families for the year 2012. Also, 2.7 million liras are allocated for representation costs for the same group. This makes up 9.6 percent of the total budget of the parliament. A total of 9.5 million liras are appropriated for health costs of current deputies. Total treatment costs for former deputies and their families were 46 million liras in 2010 and 52 million liras in 2011.

International treatment

International treatment costs are estimated to be 2,440,000 liras. This figure was 1,380,000 liras in 2010 and 2,252,000 liras in 2011.

In the budget presentation of the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, it was said, “The reason for this increase is the international health expenses of former deputies and their family members, an item that is observed to be ever increasing.”

The parliament budget is covering the health expenses of 2,395 former deputies and non-MP ministers. This figure exceeds 15,000 with their dependants.