Typ-İş: dental school graduates in Northern Cyprus do not receive clinical experience

The Union of Turkish Cypriot Doctors (Typ-İş), in a statement timed to coincide with 22 November — Dentist’s Day, reported problems in the system of dental education and healthcare in Northern Cyprus.

According to Typ-İş, more than ten dental faculties operate in the country, a significant number of which do not have their own hospitals and do not provide a sufficient number of patients. As a result, graduates do not gain the necessary clinical experience.

The union noted that the scandal involving fake university diplomas has aggravated the situation and is harming both the education system and public health. Typ-İş expressed concern over campaigns in support of those accused in the forged diplomas case and called for those responsible to be brought to court as soon as possible.

The statement also indicates that non-staff and unreliable working conditions are widespread in state dental services, and in many specialized areas specialists are not being hired, which negatively affects medical care for the population.

Typ-İş urged the Ministry of Health and the government to address the problems of dental education and practice with a scientific, transparent and realistic approach, and demanded that faculties stop being viewed as sources of income and instead become centers that meet proper standards of education and care. The union also congratulated dentists on their professional day and expressed support for their pursuit of job security guarantees and scientific standards.