Page 6 - LabMedya English - 01

6

Giant laboratory for local

medicine

He added that with molecular an area of 20 thousand square
biology, very important applications meters.”
were started in medicine; in both
diagnosis and treatment areas. He Öztürk stated that service units
underlined that biotechnological were founded in the centre to be
medicines which were produced used by researhcers from both
by molecular biology technologies state and private sector in Turkey
compose 20% of world’s medicine and added that: “I think this will be
market. the first multidisciplinary centre in
Turkey. Here molecular biologists, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Öztürk, Director of Dokuz Eylul
Öztürk stressed that one of their doctors, pharmacists, engineers
main targets was to produce and people from very different University (DEÜ) İzmir Biomedicine and Genom
medicines which were not occupations will come together and Centre (İBG-İzmir), made a statement to AA
produced in Turkey and to develop work to solve a problem using their (Anatolian Agency) reporter and stated that
new medicines. information and abilities. they aimed to carry out innovative studes in the

“A first in Turkey” Now in modern medicine, it is not centre which would combine molecular biology,
“For the first time in Turkey, enough to have a single discipline; genetic and medical sciences and would make a
a research centre with a huge coming together of specialists breakthrough.
capacity is being founded by from different areas creates an
spending 150 million Turkish unbelievable synergy. Öztürk told that studies on cell or two months, and added that
Liras. Total area of laboratories treatments had began one year there was no other centre in this
in the centre is more than two People having different speciality
football pitches. Normally, research areas will carry out projects which ago in the Centre and it was size in the large area between the
centres in Turkey has 500 square cannot be realized or will take years being planned to start studies on east of Vienna and India.
meters area, but here we talk about to be realized instead.” biotechnological medicines in one

Smokers professor at Ankara University, these medicines only with the
authorization of the Health Ministry.
also criticized the change.
Until now, this system functioned
in Turkey to not “One-sided and arbitrary changes successfully, but now the SGK
is imposing tighter rules on the
in the provisions of general health
receive free cancer medicine insurance are unlawful. system by not accepting the
A person cannot just be
ministry’s allowances,” she added,
suggesting that the reason for the
left to die based on their
mistakes or personal regulation change was the SGK
preferences. Many trying to cut costs.
Turkey’s social security would take the regulation, which diseases are caused by unhealthy
body will not fund cancer he said violates constitutionally lifestyles. For example, this “This regulation, which threatens
treatment medicines and internationally-protected health regulation could lead to hospitals the health of patients, should be
amended urgently by the SGK and
rights, to court.
asking for patients to meet weight
for patients diagnosed criteria in order to fund medicines the Health Ministry,” Saydan said.
with lung cancer who “The term ‘everyone’ is used in for cardiovascular disease
have ever had a smoking Article 56 of our constitution. patients,” Güngör said. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
habit, according to a new This assures everyone the right is well-known for his anti-smoking
regulation that went into to health. This term should be Turkish Employer Pharmacists stance. Commenting on the recent
Union (TEİS) head Nurten Saydan
extension of smoking bans in
regarded by law in terms of non-
effect on Feb. 3. discrimination and equality,” said the new regulation was public spaces, he told a group
Canduran said. “unacceptable.” of around 250 former smokers
The Social Security Institution’s that there could be “no freedom
(SGK) new regulation requires “Smoking cigarettes, which is “For example, for someone who is to commit suicide, no freedom
people with lung cancer to pay for a personal preference, is being diagnosed with lung cancer on Feb. to expose oneself to terminal
their own treatment medicines if punished by the state [with the 3, their treatment will be funded diseases.”
they have a smoking habit. regulation],” he added. only if they haven’t smoked before.
This is unacceptable,” Saydan “There can be no such freedom as
The regulation has drawn The Turkish Medical Association said. the freedom to smoke … The state
condemnation from legal bodies, (TTB) said it could take the issue to must protect its citizens against
health organizations and advocacy the Constitutional Court through an “Several life-sustaining medicines tobacco, alcohol and drugs, just as
groups. individual appeal. that also cure other diseases it is obliged to protect them against
Ankara Bar Association head are not included in the new SGK crimes like theft and terrorism,”
Hakan Canduran stated that they Devrim Güngör, an associate law prospectus. The SGK funds Erdoğan said.