Turkey has made big changes to its health care system over the past two decades. Once floundering with access to medicine and infrastructure, the country boasts near-universal content, high-performing megacity hospitals and medical tourism. However, recent dishonors and public health challenges suggest its success story is still evolving. The backbone of Turkey’s health care reform is the General Health Insurance Scheme (Genel Sağlık Sigortası), introduced as part of the administration’s Health Transformation Program in 2003.

Backed by the Social Security Institution (SGK), the scheme now covers nearly 97% of the population, offering access to public and private providers. The country has a mixed public-private model, with more than 870 public hospitals, 571 private hospitals and 68 university hospitals as of 2022. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports, Turkey spends around 6.3% of its gross domestic product on health, well below the OECD normal of 9.3%, but still achieves good results. Life expectancy has reached nearly 79 times and under 5 years old mortality has fallen by 88% between 1990 and 2021.

Growing Pains

Despite these achievements, systemic problems remain. Turkey faces indigenous differences in child mortality and access to health care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are also growing concerns about high levels of antibiotic use, air pollution and rising rates of rotundity and diabetes, which now affect around 13% to 17% of people in the country.

Turkey is also a world leader in medical tourism, attracting cases from Europe and the Middle East with affordable dentistry, ornamental surgery and hair transplants. Turkey is also a world leader in medical tourism, attracting cases from Europe and the Middle East with affordable dentistry, ornamental surgery and hair transplants. The government-backed USHAŞ (International Health Services Inc.) agency has helped promote these services worldwide. At the same time, numerous hospitals retain Joint Commission International delegations.

However, confidence in the health care system was shaken after serious allegations of fraud and price fleecing in neonatal ferocious care units surfaced. Several croakers and nurses are under investigation and several private conventions have been closed after babies were allegedly transferred from one sanitarium to another to inflate insurance claims.

Following this incident, all private hospitals in Turkey were required to obtain accreditation from the Turkish Health Care Quality and Accreditation Institute (TÜSKA) starting January 2025. A total of 58 standards and 244 criteria will be enforced and hospitals seeking accreditation must report their compliance in detail. While health care system in Turkey has made significant progress in coverage, infrastructure and innovation, it now faces the challenge of maintaining quality and integrity amid rising demand and increased ethical scrutiny.

Looking Forward

Turkey has taken decisive steps to rebuild trust and strengthen oversight in response to recent setbacks. The introduction of mandatory TÜSKA accreditation marks a serious push toward greater transparency and accountability in private care. The Health Ministry has also increased digital monitoring of insurance claims and expanded training for hospital staff. Meanwhile, investments continue in public health infrastructure, with new city hospitals opening and e-health services expanding. These moves show Turkey’s commitment to safeguarding the gains of its health care reform while adapting to new challenges.

– Ksenia Potaturina

Ksenia is based in Antalya, Turkey and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Freepik