Family doctors protest high electricity bills saying “we’re not traders”

The fact that electricity distribution companies calculate electricity bills of family health centers/doctors (ASM) providing public services using “merchant coefficient” led to reactions.

Turkey had entered the new year decisively with a 50 percent to 125 percent increase. After electricity bills seriously lost votes to the AKP in the January polls, the limit was increased to 210 kilowatt-hours for those using more than 150 kilowatt-hours, who first received a 125 percent increase. However, regulation has not been able to reduce the pressure that falling purchasing power and fluffy bills are forming.

ASMs are classified into A, B, C, D and classless according to the service they provide. While the centers are being established, all the necessities, from the chair, to the medical devices, to the patient programs on the computer, are being purchased by family doctors. Although some of the ASM are installed in the buildings of the Ministry of Health, they pay rent. Others provide services in places that they rent from private individuals.