A doctor from Didim State Hospital and a medical product seller have been arrested and faced court this week following a police operation.

Teams from the Didim Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Group Directorate made the arrests following allegations of money being illegally collected from patients, local press said.

The police teams detained the doctor, an ear, nose and throat specialist employed at Didim State Hospital.

Officers took the statements from 56 people who had received hospital services. According to the claims, the doctor informed patients that surgery was fee-based and requested a total of approximately 30,000 liras.

He also directed them to a medical products seller to obtain the necessary materials for the operations.

Local press said it was determined that the medical salesman received payments from the patients ranging from 6,000 TL to 20,000 TL depending on the person. It was revealed that no invoice or receipt was given after the purchase.

In addition, the fact that the person’s workplace did not accept payment by credit card drew attention during the operation

The doctor and medical products seller were formally arrested by the court after the completion of legal procedures. Two other people detained in the police operation were released on bail pending further police inquiries.