The Turkish Cypriot Medical Association (KTTB) convened on October 28 to determine its new executive board and working priorities for the upcoming term. Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan was re-elected as president, with Dr. Dt. Osman Ertuğ Erçal appointed as vice president, Dr. Sinem Sığıt İkiz as secretary general, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hanife Özkayalar as financial secretary.
The incoming board announced it would operate under the principle of "Stronger together," with key priorities including the protection of physicians' rights and professional independence, improving equitable access to healthcare, raising standards in medical and dental education, and stepping up efforts against unlicensed and unregistered medical practices.
Regarding portfolios, Dr. Cemal Mert will serve as responsible for Public Health, Environment and Human Rights, while External Relations will be jointly handled by Dr. Dt. Osman Ertuğ Erçal, Dr. Erdem Beyoğlu and Prof. Dr. Dalkan. Social Affairs will be overseen by Dr. Dt. Yusuf Özant and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özkayalar, with Education and Preventive Medicine responsibilities shared among multiple board members led by Dr. Sinem Sığıt İkiz.
The association stated it would pursue legal avenues when necessary to uphold standards in medical and dental education, while also increasing the participation of young physicians in decision-making processes. Institutionalizing continuous medical education and strengthening ties with international professional organizations are also listed among the board's goals.
Among the concrete targets for the new term are the opening of a KTTB branch office in Famagusta, the appointment of regional association representatives, and the completion of the organization's digital transformation. The KTTB also reaffirmed its commitment to advocacy on democracy, human rights, secular education, the environment and peace.
In an official statement, the association declared: "We will work to make the KTTB a stronger, more effective and more future-ready institution with the contribution and support of all our colleagues."
