Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Düriye Deren Oygar, addressed the current health situation in the TRNC during a telephone interview on BRT’s '18. Saat', hosted by Pembe Paşaoğluları.

Seasonal Flu Cases Not Alarming

Dr. Deren Oygar confirmed that while seasonal flu cases are present in the country, they remain at manageable levels.

She also highlighted decisions made by the Infectious Diseases High Committee during its latest meeting:

• Legal Obligation: The committee is required to convene every six months, not specifically due to an increase in cases.
• Comparative Analysis: Statistical comparisons between January 2023 and December 2024 show no significant changes in hospitalizations or outpatient visits. Notably, there has been a decrease in pediatric intensive care hospitalizations.

Clarifications on Intensive Care Unit Capacity

In response to TIP-İŞ’s statement that intensive care units are full, Dr. Deren Oygar stated:

• Specialists in infection and chest diseases from public hospitals did not issue a warning regarding ICU capacity.
• Current cases are attributed to seasonal flu, with no indication of an extraordinary situation requiring additional specialized clinics.

Future Plans for Intensive Care

Acknowledging the need for more intensive care beds, Dr. Deren Oygar emphasized the Ministry of Health's awareness of this issue:

“We are aware that intensive care beds need to be increased according to the population, and work has been initiated for this.”