By Admin
Turkey's Ministry of Health has fined more than 100 obstetrician-gynecologists for performing Caesarean Sections, suspended some from practice and ordered compulsory retraining as part of a government drive to curb the country's high caesarean birth rate.
The disciplinary action, first reported by BirGun newspaper on Friday, has sparked a backlash from healthcare professionals, who insist that punishing doctors will do little to address the deeper issues behind Turkey's widespread reliance on caesarean deliveries.
Citing data from medical associations across the country, BirGun reported that more than 100 obstetricians have been sanctioned for carrying out caesarean births.
Turkey continues to record the highest caesarean section rate among the 38 member states of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The latest available figures, for 2023, show there were about 615 caesarean deliveries for every 1,000 live births.
Medical professionals say caesarean sections are often favoured because they are far less time-consuming than vaginal deliveries. A caesarean typically takes about 30 minutes, while natural labour can last up to 12 hours. They also argue that the procedure reduces the risk of litigation arising from delivery complications, offering greater protection for both the physician and the patient.
The latest sanctions form part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of the Family" initiative, launched in 2025 to reverse declining birth rates and encourage natural childbirth.
As part of that campaign, the Turkish government in April banned elective caesarean sections at private healthcare facilities unless there is a medical justification for the procedure.
Medical associations say the disciplinary measures have affected obstetricians across the country.
In a statement posted on its website, the Antalya Chamber of Physicians said doctors had received formal warnings, faced disciplinary investigations, been temporarily suspended from practice and ordered to attend antenatal training programmes because of the country's high caesarean section rates.
One of the most high-profile cases involved an obstetrician at a private hospital in Sakarya, near Istanbul. According to the Diken news website, the doctor was dismissed at the request of the Health Ministry over a high caesarean rate before being suspended from practice for six months.
During the suspension, the physician must complete training at a state hospital and pass an examination before being allowed to return to medical practice.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has strongly criticised the government's actions.
Dr Ayse Gultekingil, a senior official of the association, said penalising doctors would not solve Turkey's persistently high caesarean rate, arguing that the problem is rooted in the healthcare system itself.
"Turkey's caesarean birth rate exceeds 60 per cent. But the method of delivery reflects various problems within Turkey's healthcare system," she told BirGun, describing the issue as a structural challenge rather than one that can be resolved by sanctioning individual physicians.
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