Turkish doctors flee to European Union

Poor working conditions, rising inflation, physical attacks and also political persecution have caused the number of Turkish doctors applying to practise outside the country so far this year to be 20% more than in the whole of 2021, and the highest in a decade.
 
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) reported today that a total of 1,683 doctors had applied by August for the certificate of good conduct required to work abroad. The figure contrasts with the 59 who applied for the document in 2012. "Due to heavy and unsafe working conditions, doctors are increasingly migrating abroad. Keep fighting for a healthy future," the TTB said in a statement.

 
Necmi Erdogan, a professor of political science at the Middle East Technical University, told Efe by phone that this talent drain is not only affecting doctors, but also top students and young academics were leaving Turkey. "They don't see their future here. Our best students are very pessimistic and take the first chance they get to leave the country," he said.
 
Earlier this week, the Turkish Education Ministry warned provincial education directors that some Erasmus students were taking advantage of the exchange programme to apply for asylum in EU countries.
 
Purchasing power in Turkey, including that of those with higher education, has been significantly eroded by the rise in inflation to 70%, according to official figures, and many graduates are emigrating for fear of falling into poverty.