Thread by @KohNagao

High examinations in private clinics in Azaz and hospitals lack specialized doctors

https://twitter.com/npa_arabic/status/1479907117700202502

Azaz - North Press

Residents and patients in the city of Azaz, which is under the control of the Turkish-backed opposition factions, north of Aleppo, in northern Syria, say that the high wages for seeing doctors in private clinics are twice what they were months ago, …
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.. pushing them to go to public hospitals despite their lack of doctors from some specialties or relying on pharmacists’ advice regarding symptoms.
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Mahmoud Haj Muhammad, 35, who is a pseudonym for a day laborer in the construction field, said that he had to take his mother, who suffers from epileptic seizures, to a general hospital after he was unable to secure a specialist doctor's examination.
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He added that a "general doctor" had seen his mother because there was no neurologist in the hospital.

“Hajj Muhammad” referred to his daily wage, which is barely enough for the house rent and the basic needs of his family of five.
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With the continuous decline in the value of the Turkish lira and its arrival during the last period to 18 pounds for every US dollar, all doctors raised the price of the private examination to 50 Turkish liras (equivalent to 14,000 Syrian liras), …
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.. after it was an average of 25 Turkish liras a few months ago (which was equivalent to about ten thousands of pounds).

Since July 2012, the city of Azaz has been under the control of the armed opposition factions loyal to Turkey.
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About 100,000 people live in the city and its countryside, between residents and displaced people, many of whom depend on income from daily work, and are looking for livelihoods commensurate with their wages.
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Medical Warnings

Maher Al-Alloush, who is a pseudonym for an internal doctor in Azaz, explained the reason for the high fees for medical examinations related to the high prices of electricity, water, and most food and consumer items.
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And he warned against medications that pharmacists prescribe to patients without a prescription, "as this may lead to other diseases, especially in the event of drug interactions."
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The prices of basic commodities in the areas under the control of the Syrian opposition are linked to the exchange rate of the Turkish lira.
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In June of the year 2019, a decision was issued by the Syrian Interim Government and the Salvation Government to impose dealing in the Turkish currency in buying and selling instead of the Syrian pound.
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Since the first months of dealing with the Turkish lira in northwestern Syria, negative repercussions have emerged from the decision, especially for workers and people with limited incomes who bear the fluctuation and variation in exchange rates.
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Residents of Azaz, north of Aleppo: The Turkish lira did not protect us from rising prices and living difficulties.
The fluctuation of the Turkish lira worsens the living situation of residents in Azaz.
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Any decline in the Turkish lira has become a key factor in an unprecedented rise in the prices of materials, while they are usually not affected by any improvement in the currency.
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Turkish domination

Among the hospitals that have been established and restored by Turkish and international organizations in the northern countryside of Aleppo are Azaz, Mare’, al-Ra’i and al-Bab hospitals.
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Residents believe that Turkey's goal in imposing its service and educational institutions in opposition areas is to gain absolute control over the Syrian territories under its control.
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Neither the medical sector nor the departments whose work is linked to humanitarian organizations are exempt from Turkish violations in the Syrian territories controlled by Ankara and its loyal factions.
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Last August, the Presidency of the Syrian Task Forces of the Turkish state of Kilis issued a decision to dismiss Dr. Othman Hijjawi from Marea Hospital in the northern countryside of Aleppo …
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.. and prevent him from practicing his work in all hospitals in the region, whether Turkish or supported by humanitarian organizations.

The Turkish decision attributed the reason for the dismissal to Hijjawi’s absence from his shift and his poor treatment of patients.
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However, doctors at Marea Hospital said, through a statement addressed to the hospital administration, a day after the dismissal decision was issued, that the points made in the text of the decision were “incorrect,” describing the matter as “arbitrary dismissal.”
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According to local sources, the decision to dismiss “Hijjawi” came because of his solidarity with a doctor who was allegedly “humiliated” by a Turkish nurse working in Marea Hospital.
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'Unbearable situation'

According to medical staff, public hospitals supported by Turkey or medical organizations operating in northwestern Syria lack doctors with specializations in neurological, psychological, nephrological, and hematology.
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Azaz includes three public hospitals, most notably the National Hospital, which was restored by the Turkish Ministry of Health in 2018, in addition to a number of medical centers affiliated with the Azaz Health Directorate,which in turn is run from the Turkish state of Kilis.
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Ibrahim al-Aqra' (37 years), who is a nickname for a displaced person from Aleppo who lives in Azaz, said that what exacerbates the situation is the high prices of medicines in addition to the high value of the examination.
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Two days ago, the man went with his mother, who suffers from disc disease and joint pain, to an orthopedic doctor, and paid 50 Turkish liras for the examination, in addition to buying 150 Turkish liras worth of medicines.
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This is despite the fact that he earns a thousand Turkish lira per month for his work in a food store.
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However, with the continuous depreciation of the Turkish lira, “my salary is no longer sufficient for me, especially since my mother constantly needs medication, as she suffers from hypertension and diabetes.”
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Al-Aqra' pointed out that the living conditions are difficult, especially in light of the lack of job opportunities and the high prices of all materials, "the situation has become unbearable."
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He added that some needs can be dispensed with, "but patients cannot dispense with their medications and treatment, and delaying treatment or not taking medications may lead to complications reaching the point of death."
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