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Turkish military faces new front as Health Ministry usurps medical system

Turkey has transplanted its military medical system into civilian life in the Health Ministry.
File picture shows the Gulhane military medical academy and hospital in
Ankara August 1, 2003, in which the President Haydar Aliyev of
Azerbaijan is being treated since early July. Azeri diplomats denied
rumours on Friday that veteran President Haydar Aliyev was dead, saying
he was well and would return home soon following medical tests in
Turkey. fs/str REUTERS

FS - RTR17RW
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The Turkish government is following through on its radical decision to totally dismantle the military medical network of about 900 doctors and more than 4,000 military nurses and paramedical personnel.

Under the state-of-emergency decree issued July 31, two weeks after an attempted coup, the 125-year-old Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in Ankara and 33 other military hospitals in different parts of Turkey were transferred to the jurisdiction of the civilian Ministry of Health. The medical needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will be handled by the civilian medical system.

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