Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi criticizes medicine shortages in Turkey

Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, Deputy Chairperson of the CHP and Istanbul Deputy, has raised concerns regarding the increasing difficulty in accessing essential medicines and vaccines in Turkey. She noted that as flu season approaches, vaccines are unavailable, and patients are struggling to find medications for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, and depression.

İlgezdi attributed these shortages to the government's exchange rate policies. She stated that while the actual Euro exchange rate is around 55 TL, the rate used for pharmaceutical calculations remains at 29.11 TL, causing chronic supply issues every autumn. She criticized the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for failing to take preventative measures, noting that citizens are often forced to search for medicine via social media or risk turning to illegal alternatives.