The people of Karpasia have been “forgotten” by the north’s ‘health ministry’, local ‘MP’ Biray Hamzaogullari said on Thursday night.

The opposition party CTP member’s intervention was part of the latest round of talks in the “marathon” discussions for the north’s 2024 ‘state’ budget, which on Thursday concerned the ‘health ministry’.

Hamzaogullari said there are “major deficiencies” in the field of health in Karpasia.

“We are not asking for you to send us a neurosurgeon. We are not asking for you to send us a urologist. We want a laboratory specialist, an x-ray specialist, an internal medicine specialist, an ear-nose-throat specialist, and a gynaecologist to come once a week,” he said.

To this end, he made reference to the high costs levied on people in Karpasia when they fall ill, as they have to travel to hospital in Famagusta to receive many essential medical treatments.

He also spoke of a “hospital which is not being built” in the region, and criticised the ‘ministry’s’ “failure to complete projects”.

In response, ‘health minister’ Hakan Dincyurek said solutions are being found to issues faced by Karpasia and other regions in the north.

He said gynaecology services and internal medicine services are being provided in a total of eight locations across the north.

Additionally, he said a working x-ray machine will be installed in the village of Yialousa next year and made reference to a “care-at home service” which will be implemented in the Karpasia region coming months.