Health Ministry grants million-lira tenders to pro-AKP organizations again

Turkey's Health Ministry once again granted million-lira tenders to companies that are known to have ties to the ruling AKP and President Erdoğan. The right to operate two public helplines that offer telephone counseling to quit drugs and smoking has been granted to organizations led by close allies of the ruling party.

Monday July 05 2021 04:32 pm

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca is seen walking in this file photo.

Duvar English

Turkey's Health Ministry once again yielded million-lira tenders to businesses with close ties to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the daily BirGün reported on July 5.

A tender for the 191 Line to Combat Drugs and Counseling was handed to EFOR Corp. for 31.6 million Turkish Liras in a three-year contract. The owner of the company was later revealed to be an executive at Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) where President Erdoğan's son Bilal Erdoğan sits on the board.

Meanwhile, the vice president of EFOR company serves as the vice-chair of the AKP Ankara provincial organization.

EFOR Corp. has reportedly received 220 million liras' worth of tenders from the government over the past nine years.

Meanwhile, the 57.9 million lira tender for a 171 Quit Smoking line was handed to a joint venture between three companies, one of which is led by Doğan Salman who serves on the board of Turkey Volunteer Organizations Foundation (TGTV), an umbrella organization for dozens of pro-government foundations.

State tenders are a common method of the AKP to redistribute wealth to affiliated organizations.