KTTB: We will not tolerate violence against health workers
VIOLENCE against health workers will not be tolerated, the Cyprus Turkish Medical Association (KTTB) Board of Directors said after a member of staff at Lefkoşa State Hospital reportedly received death threats last Saturday and was “prevented from performing their duties”.
A “hotline” for health workers to report incidents of violence should be set up, the KTTB said in a statement, which highlighted that similar incidents of violence in hospitals have happened before.
“As healthcare professionals, we are faced with the fact that our safety is not guaranteed while doing our job,” the statement said.
“Since there are no security guards at the inpatient and outpatient health services in public hospitals, this clearly paves the way for violence in healthcare.”
The statement continued: “Violence in healthcare is not only a matter of concern to healthcare professionals, it also prevents our patients from accessing healthcare services.
“In an environment of violence, the health of our patients is also at risk. Violence in healthcare creates an environment that prevents critical treatment of our patients.”
The statement noted that in cases of violence against healthcare workers, “as in every crime that disturbs the peace”, the police are responsible for acting immediately and initiating criminal proceedings.
“There is no legal basis for seeking a complaint between the parties in such cases. The police are obliged to carry out the relevant investigation without seeking complaints.
“If there is an investigation being conducted by the Health Ministry or by the police into this treatment of healthcare workers while on the job, we are waiting for an explanation from the authorities as to what stage it is at.”
The KTTB added that “specific legal and institutional arrangements should urgently be made to prevent health workers from being exposed to violence”.
“Personnel with the authority and training to intervene in violent situations in hospitals and similar health institutions should be employed,” the statement also said.