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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Troops to replace Turkmen medics |
| 2004-03-02 |
| FYI, if you get sick in Turkmenistan, crawl to the border. President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan has ordered the dismissal of 15,000 medical workers. It is likely that at least some of the hospital work left behind would now be done by conscript soldiers. The Turkmen leader said the move would reduce state spending on healthcare and the workers will not be replaced. Well, that's one way to cut Cheaply-employed conscripts perform a number of jobs in Turkmenistan - from policing traffic on the streets to working in factories. However, it is not clear how much training the soldiers will receive before entering the health service. "Here, stick this rag on that wound, you'll be fine. Next!" The cuts come in every department of the health service but some special groups are targeted - nurses, midwives, school health visitors and orderlies. This means that very many of those now redundant are women treating other women and children. They're just breeding stock. President Niyazov says the cuts are part of a restructuring of the health service which is being privatised. Instead of free health care for all, Turkmens are now supposed to take out insurance to cover most health needs. So, it's not just crappy care, you gotta pay for it! It is true that the Turkmen health service is in very poor shape - but critics argue that the mass sacking was done without consultation or real planning. Dear Supreme Unquestionable Leaders don't need consultation. The army will likely be called in to fill some gaps, as has happened before. One of these days, the army is likely to fill the gap between the Presidents ears with lead. President Niyazov, who recently banned men from keeping beards, apparently makes his decisions single-handedly. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Hope he doesn't get a paper cut on his decision-making hand... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-3-2 1:19:13 PM |
| #1 Turkmenbashi definetly ranks up there with 'Little Kim' on the crazy dictator scale... |
| Posted by: ----------<<<<- 2004-3-2 1:16:34 PM |