Syrian doctors, health workers in Turkey to be given special work permit: Health minister

Syrian doctors and health workers in Turkey will be given special work permission so as to provide treatment to Syrians taking refuge in the country, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdağ has said.

"We will give a special working permit to Syrian doctors and health workers in Turkey in order for them to treat Syrian guests. We are preparing for that," Akdağ told Anadolu Agency on Jan. 26, adding that Syrian doctors and health workers were currently being trained.

"We are training them and they are taking exams. They will be ready in the following three months," he said.
 
Noting that they had formed immigration health centers under the auspices of the ministry, Akdağ said Turkey provided free healthcare for all Syrians in Turkey.

"We've established immigration health centers. We are providing free healthcare to all the Syrians in Turkey, but we've formed immigration centers specifically. We've formed these centers in 16 provinces. We'll increase the number to 500 units in 170 centers. We are now determining the places and in some of these, we will rent and in some we will construct new buildings. With these centers, we will provide Syrians with a more compact health service," he added. 

During his interview, Akdağ said Turkey hosted 4 million Syrian refugees. 

"God has given us the opportunity and we are hosting them. What I believe is that the more we help the victims and the oppressed as a country, the more God helps us," he said.

Akdağ also said the people in Turkey were content with the support the country was giving to "our Syrian siblings." 

"If you accept a guest, of course you fulfill their needs. The world praises that, especially the United Nations," he said.