UK Permitted Direct Flights And Health Treatment In The TRNC

UK Permitted Direct Flights And Health Treatment In The TRNC

WHAT IF IT COULD HAPPEN?

It’s interesting to see that an Early Day Motion (EDM) has been submitted in Parliament by Rt Hon Sammy Wilson MP, calling on the UK Government to permit direct flights to Northern Cyprus. This is the first positive EDM for Turkish Cypriots since 2007, so why does the UK government reject direct flights?

The successive UK governments cite the Chicago Convention, which grants only the Republic of Cyprus the authority to designate Ercan Airport as an international customs airport. However, critics argue that this is a political stance rather than a legal necessity. Flights to Taiwan are permitted despite its contested status, raising questions about consistency in UK aviation policy. So why not allow direct flights to the TRNC?

Many UK politicians, including Jack Straw and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, argue that the UK’s refusal to allow direct flights unfairly isolates Turkish Cypriots. Some believe that allowing direct flights could create a more balanced diplomatic approach and encourage negotiations for a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. But let’s look beyond the current Cyprus merry-go-round.

The UK’s Major Financial Problems

The UK is facing major financial problems and is failing to solve the illegal immigrant crisis. The previous government had a plan to send illegal immigrants abroad as part of their broader strategy to manage the immigration crisis and alleviate the financial burden on the country. However, this plan has now been cancelled by the latest government.

So, what are the major problems facing UK people due to the arrival of illegal immigrants? Supply of housing and speedy healthcare are of the utmost priority.

There have been times when UK patients could receive funding for medical treatment abroad due to NHS capacity issues. In the past, schemes allowed patients to seek treatment in other European countries when waiting times in the UK were excessively long.

More recently, as NHS waiting lists have grown, some patients have opted to pay for private surgery abroad, particularly for procedures like hip and knee replacements. While the NHS does not currently fund these operations abroad in the same way it once did, the backlog has led many to seek alternatives outside the UK.

Direct Flights and Medical Treatment in the TRNC

The TRNC has many private hospitals and clinics that can offer excellent treatment without long waiting lists. If the UK encouraged direct flights to Northern Cyprus, and the UK NHS could partner with the TRNC medical centres, those waiting for treatment would welcome the opportunity of early treatment and perhaps contribute to the cost of treatment and recovery in the Jewel of the Mediterranean.

The challenge is for the UK government to be seen to be taking positive steps to resolve the NHS waiting list, and then focus its efforts on stopping the flow of illegal immigrants to the UK, which is creating a financial meltdown. The number of illegal immigrants arriving in the UK has been a significant concern. Between 2020 and the end of September 2024, around 175,000 unauthorised arrivals were recorded by authorities. Additionally, more than 108,130 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year ending December 2024, which is the highest number since records began in 1979.

It’s Time To Reduce The UK’s NHS Waiting Lists

Sending people abroad for treatment can indeed be faster and help reduce NHS waiting lists. By doing so, it provides a direct return on investment, as it alleviates the strain on the NHS and allows for quicker access to necessary medical care. This approach can be more efficient than spending resources on less effective measures.

While the NHS does not currently fund these operations abroad in the same way it once did, including in the EU countries, the waiting list backlog has led many to seek alternatives outside the UK so it’s time for the UK Government to think outside the Box, and what better place to start but in the Turkish Republic of Northen Cyprus.

Read more of the Cyprus Issues on Young Turkish Cypriots and Freedom And Fairness.org  

To read more reviews and Readers Mail click here