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2 clusters · 4 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

Turkey medicine shortages and pricing disputes

Overview

Turkey is experiencing significant shortages of essential medicines and vaccines, affecting treatments for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, and depression.

The All Pharmacist Employers Union (TEİS) identified the government’s pharmaceutical pricing system as the primary cause. TEİS President Nurten Saydan noted a discrepancy between the official Euro exchange rate used for drug pricing, which is 29.11 TL, and the actual market rate exceeding 55 TL. This gap reportedly discourages companies from importing necessary medicines or raw materials.

Political figures, including CHP Deputy Chairperson Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi, have criticized the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for failing to implement preventative measures. Concerns have been raised that the lack of supply is forcing citizens to seek medications through social media or risk using illegal and smuggled alternatives, which poses a threat to patient safety.

Entities

Turkey · Ministry of Health · Nurten Saydan · CHP · Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi criticizes medicine shortages in Turkey

    CHP Deputy Chairperson Gamze Akkuş İlgezdi warned of critical shortages in vaccines and essential medicines in Turkey, blaming government exchange rate policies.

  2. [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Turkey faces medicine shortages due to currency exchange policies

    Turkey is experiencing shortages of critical medicines for chronic diseases, driven by a gap between official and market Euro exchange rates.

Sources

aydinpost.com · cumhuriyet.com.tr · diken.com.tr · sondakika.com