1. LAW OFFICE OF THE TURKISH DIABETES FOUNDATION M. Temel Yılmaz, Şehnaz Karadeniz, Emel Özer, Tülay Demirege, Betül Sümer

2. LAW OFFICE  Established in the year 2002  Two lawyers are in charge  Give legal advice and advocacy -free of charge for people who can not afford it -take over cases serving as a model free of charge -currently 8 cases are sued for 2 cases serving as a model have been won

3. MAIN PROBLEMS  Partial coverage of the expenses by the social insurance institutions  People with no social insurance  Inadequate application of the regulations existent rights  Obscured resistance for reimbursement  Discrimination  No Diabetes Act

4. INSURANCE SYSTEMS IN TURKEY  Not all people are covered by a health insurance system  Several insurance systems with different regulations for - governmental employees and pensioners (Emekli Sandığı) -workers (Sosyal Sigorta) -self-employed persons (Bağ-Kur) -all !!! (Private insurances) -officially documented very poor people (GreenCard)

5. OTHER PROBLEMS  Patients are not aware of their rights  Patients do not know where to apply in need  The legislators are not aware about the extent of the problems of diabetic patients  Social environment does not know what diabetes is and what kind of problems patients has to face

6. OUR WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS Meetings –For patients –For parents Articles in our “Living & Diabetes” magazine Patients are not aware of their rights

7. Booklets –“Rights of the diabetic children for the treatment and follow-up given by the social insurance institutions” published in the year 1997 –“Social insurance rights of diabetic patients” published in the year 2003 OUR WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS Patients are not aware of their rights

8. Organization of Meetings –Together with the participation of the legislators and diabetes organizations, Diabetes Nurses Association, Turkish Dietetic Association Blood glucose screening in the Parliament OUR WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS The legislators are not aware about the extent of the problems of diabetic patients

9. Public Meetings Meetings for special groups –For teachers, schoolchildren and parents –For the police force Blood glucose screening OUR WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS Social environment do not know what diabetes is and what kind of problems patient has to face

10. Social activities –World Diabetes Day celebrations during the week in appr. 25 cities –Participation to the activities of several civilian organizations Publications, also for special groups –School package –Diabetes booklet for police OUR WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS Social environment do not know what diabetes is and what kind of problems patient has to face

11. Efforts to describe the situation to the officials and to the administration of related institutions for the proper application Institution of legal proceedings OUR WAYS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS Inappropriate application of the existent rights

12. ACHIEVEMENTS from 1996 to 2006  Strips - 1996 No reimbursement - 2006 Reimbursement available 3 strips/day for patients with T1DM 1 strip/day for patients with T2DM

13. ACHIEVEMENTS from 1996 to 2006  Schoolchildren 1996 No programs for schoolchildren with diabetes 2006 -Appropriate arrangement for meals and snacks -Diabetes education programs for schoolchildren and teachers -Improvement of school canteens/cafeterias are on the agenda

14. ACHIEVEMENTS from 1996 to 2006  Police Department 1996 No diabetes program for policemen and no regulations for diabetic patients in jail or under custody 2006 - Diabetes education was given to appr. 650 administrators of the several police departments in İstanbul - Regulation for the people in jail and under custody for their meal planning to maintain proper diabetes treatment - The regulation was sent to every department with informative material about diabetes attached - Traffic policemen were informed about probable problems of drivers with diabetes

15. HOW CAN THE LAW OFFICE BE REACHED?  Handouts about the Law Office  Website  Announcement in Living & Diabetes magazine

16. Thank you...