Filiz Besim: We're Only Lynching Pharmacists and Doctors, But We Should Also Talk About Patients and Medications

Speaking on the morning program "Sabahın Haberleri" on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Filiz Besim highlighted the political aspect of the prescription scam and stated, "We, as a small community, have a tradition of speaking openly about events. But, we don't talk enough about the fact that it is the patients who are harmed and who the real culprits are."

Besim pointed out that the issue of medications is not a new topic and that it has been a crisis for the past five years. She asked why people resorted to shortcuts to access medication, emphasizing that hospitals have been facing shortages of medications for months and even years. Medications for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer have become scarce, indicating significant deficiencies.

Besim expressed her concerns about the state of the Pharmaceutical Services and emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of a Medication Tracking System, which she believes should take precedence over discussing only those involved in criminal activities.

She mentioned previous investigations related to prescription drugs and stressed the importance of promptly implementing the Medication Tracking System. Besim called for cooperation between the Ministry of Health and Labor and the establishment of an adequate budget for the Pharmaceutical Services.

Besim also suggested that medications, especially those used by the elderly, could be prescribed for a duration of 3-6 months to prevent misuse. She criticized the Ministry of Health for not taking action on the issue, noting that patients often receive only one week's worth of medication due to shortages in state hospitals.

In conclusion, Besim argued that discussions should focus on the overall system, not just on pharmacists and doctors, and that the Ministry of Health should take a more active role in addressing these issues. She criticized the lack of attention to broader healthcare topics such as the General Health Insurance System, despite the ongoing pandemic.