This is Mehmet AKAY, was born in 1951 and citizen of North Cyprus
Transkript
This is Mehmet AKAY, was born in 1951 and citizen of North Cyprus
This is Mehmet AKAY, was born in 1951 and citizen of North Cyprus Turkish Republic have attended “Dispensing Optic” education programs between 1969-1972 in London. (2 years of education + 1 year of internship) I am British Optical Association’s member as owner of a few optical foundations In North Cyprus Turkish Republic. Unfortunately, no law is related with Optical sector in North Cyprus Turkish Republic. Because of that I want to present and examine shortly the “Dispensing Optics and Optometry Act” managed by our neighbor South Cyprus Government. I want to thank in advance to South Cyprus Government Opticians Association’s President Mr. Adolfos Kanneti for helping to prepare this presentation. North Cyprus Turkish Republic’s population is 250.000, Optician’s number is 23. Watch, gold or silver jewelery are sold in great majority of Optic shops. First opticians were watch sellers in South Cyprus. Afterwards some pharmacies started to sell glasses. Presently, any watch opticians cannot realize watch selling in South Cyprus. Besides pharmacies don’t sell glasses neither. Opticians just sell glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses. Just 2 opticians have a certificate from England in North Cyprus Turkish Republic. Others are working with a legal permit, which is taken from courses in Turkey or North Cyprus Turkish Republic The Ministry of Health. 2 opticians are working with certificates from Canada. On the other hand, opticians do not sell lenses and solutions in North Cyprus Turkish Republic. Solutions are in within medicine due to be selling pharmacy. Dispensing Optic and Optometry Act most likely similar of Opticians act in England. The current act was effectuated in 1992. In South Cyprus, which has been 700.000 population, living and pay dues, there are 60 opticians and 175 optometrist. Most of those opticians have graduated from England Schools in actual standards and opticians who have diploma. Some of them graduated from Greece and Italy. To be an optician, at least 2 years of Opticians School education and 1 year of internship is necessary. Opticians get glasses order, can self-produce or provide from outsourcers. Otherwise they get glasses frame settings. They cannot perform contact lens but sell according to prescription of optometrists or doctors. Optician should have permit to work from Cyprus Opticians Council. A shop, which is the working place of an optician, shouldn’t perform any different job. On the other hand, tools, machines and equipments, which are necessary for an optician, should be found in working place. Optometry education is minimum 3 years degree education. In addition 1-year internship is required. Optometrists perform eye examination. The main mission and specialization of optometrists is to perform refraction and contact lens. They get glasses and contact lens prescription. Although they have education to determine any problem in eyes, they do not cure with medicine or operation. In this kind of cases optometrists forward the patient to doctors. Optometrists can also get glasses order like an optician. Optometrists should have permit to work from Cyprus Opticians Council. A shop, which is working place of an optician, shouldn’t perform any different job. Besides Optometrist should have eye examination equipments. Opticians realize internships only under control of “licensed” opticians and optometrists. In order to accept the internship of Optometrists, the internship has to be done under control of “licensed” optometrists for one year of duration. These internships are realized in countries from which the opticians graduated or from South Cyprus. South Cyprus Opticians Association performs like a union, which is inclusive for all opticians. This association looks after the rights of opticians and optometrist and works hard for their trainings. It also builds bridges between ministries and members of the sector for their development process. Although the association has no sanction, all opticians have to be a member as a requirement of the law. Registration and membership fee is 20 Cyprus Liras. South Cyprus Optician Council has sanction in South Cyprus. The Ministry of Health of South Cyprus appoints council for two years. The necessary permits are given by the association and are also renewed every year. The needed documents to get a permit for being an Optician or optometrist; 1. Optician or Optometry diploma, 2. Certificate that proves the 1-year of internship at a legal optician or optometrist 3. Is available just for Citizens of European Union and no criminal record from attorney generalship. South Cyprus Opticians Council provides permit for anybody who can fulfill these circumstances. 2 Latvians (in Master degree) who have these qualifications are working in South Cyprus. In 1992 this council performed Optician and Optometry Law and additional clause to control all optician and prevent working without permit. Members who are against to laws are send to discipline board by council, when to be necessary council confiscate their permit transient or continuous, punish them with fine and even prison One of the important problems of the opticians of South Cyprus is the educational difference between the members of the association. Most of the members have been graduated from United Kingdom, but there are also member who have completed their education in Greece or Italy. Some of the members are being arrogant about it. However, it is a known fact that “ECOO-The European Council of Optometry and Optics” is going to come up with some new training standards in order to eliminate those differences between the members. Besides that some discussions between the optometrists and eye doctors have been also observed. In KKTC there are 30 eye doctors working and they have all completed their education in Turkey. They all have special clinics or they prefer to work at a private hospital. There are 8 eye doctors who also work for public hospitals. Currently, there is no active optometrist in KKTC.