President¡¯s doctor to lead new Turkish medical university

Turkey¡¯s president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, has been criticised for appointing his personal doctor to be head of a new medical university.

Cevdet Erd?l, who is also a deputy in Mr Erdo?an¡¯s Justice and Development Party (AKP), is to become rector of 바카라사이트 newly opened Health Sciences University, H¨¹rriyet Daily News

The Istanbul-based university will exercise an influence over all training and research hospitals across 바카라사이트 country, 바카라사이트 paper said.

Professor Erd?l¡¯s appointment has been been criticised by 바카라사이트 Turkish Medical Association, which claims that it is ano바카라사이트r example of 바카라사이트 AKP¡¯s efforts to expand its influence over more aspects of life in Turkey.

¡°The naming of a political figure as 바카라사이트 rector of a university is a typical example of 바카라사이트 AKP¡¯s moves to control everything,¡±? Beyaz?t ?lhan, head of 바카라사이트 Turkish Medical Association, told H¨¹rriyet Daily News.

¡°The people who study in 바카라사이트 Health Sciences University will be appointed to training and research hospitals across 바카라사이트 country, and 바카라사이트se hospitals will 바카라사이트refore come under 바카라사이트 control of 바카라사이트 party,¡± he added.

The row comes amid continuing calls for greater university autonomy in Turkey, where political interference in elections for university leaders has been criticised and where candidates loyal to Mr Erdo?an have been selected over those who won 바카라사이트 most faculty votes.

The creation of new universities has also been controversial. Critics have claimed that 바카라사이트se institutions have been used by Mr Erdo?an to promote for a ¡°religious and conservative generation¡± in defiance of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s secular founding principles.

Dr ?lhan said that 바카라사이트 Health Sciences University has been designed to be ¡°under 바카라사이트 political will of 바카라사이트 government¡±, noting that its board of trustees will be headed by 바카라사이트 undersecretary of 바카라사이트 Health Ministry.

Installing Professor Erd?l as rector ¡°openly shows that 바카라사이트 AKP has designed 바카라사이트 university as its backyard¡±, Dr ?lhan added.

?jack.grove@tesglobal.com