Northern Cyprus implements new health laws for assistant physicians
New regulations under the Health Services Department Law, published in the Official Gazette on July 8, 2026, have introduced significant changes to the working and educational rights of assistant physicians in Northern Cyprus.
According to Dr. Özlem Gürkut, President of the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association, the law ensures that assistant physicians will now receive payment for shifts worked within their own training services. Previously, compensation was limited to shifts performed in emergency services, where assistants often worked under different titles.
The legislation also guarantees scholarships for assistants traveling to Turkey for the second half of their specialist training. These scholarships are mandated to be no less than three times the gross minimum wage. Dr. Gürkut noted that these changes follow an eight-year advocacy effort to end what she described as unfair labor practices.
Entities
Cyprus Turkish Medical Association · Dr. Özlem Gürkut · Health Services Department Law
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Assistant physicians will now receive payment for shifts worked in their training services. haberkibris.com · sondakikakibris.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Health Services Department Law was published in the Official Gazette on July 8, 2026. haberkibris.com · sondakikakibris.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Scholarships for assistants training in Turkey must be at least three times the gross minimum wage. haberkibris.com · sondakikakibris.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The law prevents assistant physicians from being employed under titles outside their specialty area. haberkibris.com · sondakikakibris.com