Over five health personnel ‘martyred’ amid ongoing clashes in Turkey’s southeast: Health minister

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

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At least five health personnel have been killed during the clashes in Turkey’s southeast as over 30 ambulances were damaged, Turkish Health Minister, Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, said on Feb. 11. 
 
Speaking at a regional assessment meeting in the southeastern province of Gaziantep, Müezzinoğlu highlighted that several heath personnel have also been affected by the ongoing clashes between the security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants. 

“During the clashes over 30 ambulances were damaged as over five health personnel were ‘martyred’ following an explosion in a vehicle in the Uludere district of southeastern Şırnak province. As the Health Ministry, we are working to provide the ideal health service throughout Turkey,” Müezzinoğlu said. 

Müezzinoğlu added that Turkey needed 20,000 specialists and 10,000 practicing doctors.  

Meanwhile, during a 2016 budget meeting at the Turkish parliament an argument erupted between Müezzinoğlu and deputies from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), with HDP deputies calling the health minister “war minister.” Müezzinoğlu replied to the comments by saying: “I am the Health Minister and I have never had an attitude to deserve this title [of war minister].”