Medicine Crisis in the TRNC: Doctors and Pharmacists Demand Urgent Action

The Turkish Cypriot Medical Association (KTTB) has reported serious issues with public access to medicines, stressing that the situation has escalated into a full-scale public health crisis. According to the association’s president, Professor Ceyhun Dalkan, even insured citizens are struggling to obtain essential medications. He also criticized the newly introduced 20% co-payment for drugs that are unavailable at state pharmacies and must be purchased privately. In his view, this decision defies both common sense and the principles of social medicine.

One of the main problems remains the lack of a proper electronic prescription and drug-tracking system, which the authorities have so far failed to implement. In the absence of reliable data and with systemic failures, it is impossible to effectively plan procurement and logistics for medicines.

The doctors’ association has called for the immediate abolition of the co-payment, the fast-track launch of an electronic system, and the development of a national healthcare strategy based on actual data. Special emphasis should be placed on establishing a universal health insurance system involving all stakeholders and prioritizing public interest.

The Pharmacists’ Association expressed similar criticism. They noted that currency fluctuations and fixed prices for medicines have caused shortages, especially of imported drugs. Pharmacists also voiced concerns that the introduction of the 20% co-payment would hit the most vulnerable populations — the elderly, chronically ill, and low-income citizens.

The causes of the crisis are said to include not only currency instability and price controls but also the lack of digital infrastructure, inadequate planning, and weak coordination among government agencies. All of this is eroding public trust in the healthcare system and posing a direct threat to the lives and health of patients, particularly those who rely on essential medications.

Doctors and pharmacists are urging the government to take immediate action to prevent the situation from worsening and to guarantee citizens’ basic right to medical care.