Turkey Penalises Doctors Over Rising Caesarean Birth Rates

ANKARA: (News Desk) – Turkey’s Health Ministry has reportedly taken disciplinary action against more than 100 obstetricians and gynaecologists over their high rates of Caesarean deliveries, fining the doctors, suspending them from practice, and requiring them to complete additional medical training, according to BirGun newspaper.

Turkey recorded the highest Caesarean section rate among the 38 member countries of the OECD in 2023, with about 615 C-section deliveries for every 1,000 live births. Medical experts say the procedure is often preferred because it takes significantly less time than natural childbirth and can reduce the risk of legal disputes arising from delivery complications.

The government’s latest measures are part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s “Decade of the Family” initiative, which aims to reverse declining birth rates and promote natural childbirth. In April 2025, authorities banned elective Caesarean sections at private hospitals unless there is a clear medical necessity.

According to medical associations cited by BirGun, more than 100 doctors have now faced penalties under the new policy, prompting criticism from healthcare professionals. The Antalya Chamber of Physicians said affected obstetricians have received official warnings, faced disciplinary investigations, been temporarily suspended, and ordered to attend antenatal training programmes because of their high Caesarean rates.

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One reported case involved an obstetrician at a private hospital in Sakarya, near Istanbul, who was dismissed at the Health Ministry’s request and suspended from practising for six months. During the suspension, the doctor must complete training at a state hospital and pass an examination before being allowed to return to work.

Dr. Ayse Gultekingil of the Turkish Medical Association argued that punishing doctors would not address the underlying causes of Turkey’s high Caesarean rate. She said the country’s C-section rate, which exceeds 60 percent, reflects broader structural challenges within the healthcare system rather than the decisions of individual physicians.