Attack on 112 Emergency Health Team in Hakkâri; Statement from Union

In a tragic incident in the Bağlar Mahallesi neighborhood of Hakkâri, 112 Emergency Health teams mobilized for patient intervention were subjected to a physical attack while on duty. The assault, allegedly carried out by the patient's relatives, endangered the lives of the healthcare workers and disrupted the delivery of health services, one of society's most basic needs. Despite the team acting solely with the purpose of saving lives, being subjected to violence has caused great outrage and concern among their colleagues. It is clear that such events will negatively affect the motivation of healthcare personnel already working under difficult conditions and damage their sense of security while performing their jobs.

Making a statement regarding the issue, the Sağlık-Sen Hakkâri Branch strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing that violence against healthcare workers can never be accepted. Union officials stated that any hand reaching out to health workers, who sacrifice themselves to save lives, is against conscience and humanity, and that there can be no justification for this attack. In the written statement, it was noted that healthcare workers work solely to protect human health and that such behaviors they are exposed to while practicing their profession cannot be excused. The union firmly stated that they will always stand by the affected workers and will follow up on the incident.

According to the details of the incident, it was learned that the attack took place while a 112 team serving in Hakkâri Merkez was going to the region upon a request for patient assistance. The disagreement between the patient's relatives and healthcare workers or the stressful moments experienced unfortunately evolved into a physical altercation and turned into a violent incident. This situation once again reveals how high the risks faced by emergency teams are and how unpredictable the environments in which they serve can be. In order to ensure that emergency health services continue uninterrupted at any moment and under any condition, ensuring the safety of healthcare personnel emerges as one of the most important priorities.

Conveying "get well soon" wishes to the healthcare workers who were attacked, Sağlık-Sen announced that they will follow the issue and support the legal process to the very end. The union stated that legal avenues will be resorted to in order for those involved in the incident to receive the necessary punishment within the framework of the laws, and that initiatives in this regard will continue with determination. In their statements, they included that the issue of violence in health will not be tolerated as it becomes a social problem, that all necessary initiatives will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such events, and that they will use the necessary platforms to make their voices heard. This attitude emphasizes that healthcare workers are not alone and the importance of union organization in protecting the rights of workers.

In conclusion, this incident in Hakkâri shows that violence against healthcare workers negatively affects not only the victims but the entire society and the health system. It is not an acceptable situation for those who set out to save lives to be prevented from doing their duty by being attacked, and it should be condemned by all segments of society. Sağlık-Sen's firm and determined stance should serve as an example to other professional organizations and non-governmental organizations, and a more cooperative approach should be displayed in the fight against violence in healthcare. It is of great importance for citizens to remember that healthcare workers work under difficult conditions and sacrificially, to maintain their composure even in stressful moments, and to avoid resorting to violence.