Ankara Medical Chamber's "Violence in Health" Report: 122 Thousand Notifications, Call for "End Impunity"

ANKARA - Ankara Medical Chamber (ATO) has published a striking report on violence in the health sector. Stating that at least 122,000 reports of violence have been made since the establishment of the Code White system, ATO emphasized that the "Law on Violence in Healthcare" should be enacted urgently and impunity should end.

"Are You Aware of the Danger?": World Health Organization Strategies Reminded

Making a statement on its social media account with the title "Are you aware of the danger?", Ankara Medical Chamber underlined that violence in health is a "foreseeable and preventable social problem". ATO reminded the World Health Organization's (WHO) strategies to increase the safety of health workers and prevent violence, and stated that the following measures should be taken:

• Risks of violence in health care organizations should be identified and measures should be taken to address these risks.

• Health workers should be trained on their legal and administrative rights.

• Clear policies and procedures should be in place for reporting and responding to incidents of violence.

• Physical and psychological precautions and occupational safety measures should be taken to ensure a safe working environment.

Turkish Medical Association's Demands for a Law on Violence in Health

Ankara Chamber of Medicine emphasized in its statement that the **"Law on Violence in Healthcare "** prepared by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) should be enacted urgently to end impunity against violence in healthcare. The recommendations listed for the law were shared as follows:

• Penalties for crimes against health workers must be increased and impunity must end.

• The deferment of the announcement of the verdict and probation practices should be abolished in the execution of crimes committed against health workers.

• A new category of crime should be defined in the Turkish Penal Code under the title "Violence against Healthcare Workers".

• Entering health institutions with weapons should be prevented by legal regulations.

ATO stated that they are determined to continue their struggle to end violence in health care until they get results and invited the authorities to take urgent measures against this social problem.