By The European Times | Created at 2026-07-20 08:26:40 | Updated at 2026-08-04 20:17:24
2 weeks ago
The Turkish Health Ministry has sanctioned over 100 obstetricians over the high number of caesarean sections performed. Some of the doctors have been suspended and others are required to undergo additional training, the Turkish newspaper BirGun reported, quoted by AFP.
Turkey has the highest rate of caesarean births among the 38 countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). According to data for 2023, 615 out of every 1,000 live births were born by caesarean section.
According to doctors, the procedure is often preferred because it takes about 30 minutes, while natural childbirth can last up to 12 hours. In addition, doctors believe that this reduces the risk of lawsuits in the event of complications.
In 2025, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government banned non-medically necessary cesarean sections in private hospitals as part of the “Decade of the Family” initiative aimed at tackling the declining birth rate. According to the Antalya Medical Chamber, many obstetricians and gynecologists have been warned, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against them, and some have been temporarily suspended from practicing.
Among those sanctioned is a doctor at a private hospital in Sakarya who was dismissed at the request of the health ministry due to the high rate of cesarean sections. He will not be able to practice for six months, during which time he will undergo training at a state hospital and will have to pass an exam before regaining his right to work.
The Turkish Medical Association criticized the measures. Dr. Ayşe Gültekingil told BirGun that punishing doctors will not solve the problem, as the high rate of cesarean sections is a consequence of deeper, structural problems in the country’s healthcare system.
Illustrative photo: pexels-ebubekir-y-2153860311-37065232
