Turkey faces pharmacist and dentist employment crisis

Health professionals in Turkey, specifically pharmacists and dentists, are facing significant employment challenges despite an increase in the number of graduates. Yeni Parti Giresun MP Elvan Işık Gezmiş highlighted that the number of pharmacy faculties has risen from 11 in 2002 to 63, yet employment planning has not kept pace. She noted that approximately 9,000 pharmacists and over 20,000 dentists are currently awaiting appointments.

In response to these issues, Işık Gezmiş submitted written parliamentary inquiries to the Minister of Health regarding public sector appointments, vacant positions, and unused dental units. She emphasized that while graduates hold diplomas, they lack professional opportunities, which simultaneously affects public access to healthcare services.

Separately, Mehmet İrfan Demirci, President of the Turkish Pharmacists Association (TEB), called for increased employment within the pharmaceutical industry, noting that pharmacists currently make up only about 1% of that sector. Demirci mentioned a protocol with İŞKUR that has already enabled approximately 1,600 pharmacists to begin working as assistant pharmacists in pharmacies. He is currently working to adapt this cooperation to include the pharmaceutical industry and suggested that university curricula should be updated to better prepare graduates for industrial production roles.