Turkish Government To Allow Foreign Doctors To Work In Turkey

ISTANBUL - Turkish government is set to allow hospitals to recruit foreign doctors to meet shortfall in physicians.
Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said on Friday that the government would pave the way for foreign doctors in Turkish hospitals, citing the shortfall in the number of physicians in Turkey.
He said the biggest risk in Turkey`s health sector was deficiency of human resources, mainly doctors and nurses.
"Controversies on the matter are totally artificial. Such controversies are going on because some peoples` interests would be harmed," Akdag told reporters at a press conference in Istanbul.
"But we will ask foreign doctors to speak Turkish at least at a level to perform their profession. And we will also seek diploma equivalence," Akdag said.
Akdag also said that Turkish universities would allow 1,500 more students to medicine faculties this year.
"The number of students to start studying medicine will be 6,000 in the next academic year."
(TÇ-AÖ)