MARDİN - Mardin Medical Chamber Co-Chair Dr. Osman Sağlam who stated that regional quarantine hospitals must be established, said: "A doctor who diagnosed coronavirus was told to take a leave of absance. Doctors are afraid of diagnosing coronavirus.

 

As of March 18, the number of people who died worldwide due to the new type of coronavirus (Kovid-19) epidemic, which was declared global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), has reached 8 thousand. The number of cases was announced as 98 yesterday evening in Turkey while one patient was announced to be dead.

 

Co-chair of the Mardin Medical Chamber (MTO) Osman Sağlam criticized the absence of hospitals performing coronavirus testing in each province and the inadequacy of the measures taken against the virus.

 

'DOCTORS ARE AFRAID OF DIAGNOSING CORONAVIRUS'

 

Stating that the healthcare providers could not publicly announce the cases as 'suspected coronavirus', Sağlam stated that a doctor who diagnosed a patient was sent on a leave of absance because he confirmed the disease. Sağlam, stating that what's happening is scaring the healthcare staff and the doctors, said the doctors are afraid of diagnosing coronavirus. Sağlam said: "The healthcare systme in Turkey is a complete fiasco for the last 20 years. The fact that diagnostic tests are done in only 3 cities is  a policy based on ignoring and rejecting the virus. There are scores of patients the doctors are reluctant to diagnose. To tell you the truth, the private hospitals are also pressuring the doctors not to diagnose."

 

'REGIONAL CARANTINE HOSPITALS MUST BE ESTABLISHED'

 

Stating that if coronavirus is seen in a hospital, the whole hospital is being quarantined, Sağlam said: "This is not a healthy approach. The patients can't visit the hospitals with this approach. Who will attend to the regular patients who do not have coronavirus? A hospital must be declared a carantine hospital in every city so that other patients are able to go to the hospitals without fear. Currently, the Ministry of Health and Health Directorates prohibit this."