Family physicians in Turkey to go on 5-day strike

Duvar English

According to a statement by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and several other labor unions, family physicians working in state-run primary healthcare centers would go on a nationwide five-day strike from Dec. 2 to 6.

Despite all objections from doctors and professional organizations, an amendment on the Family Medicine Contract and Payment Regulation came into effect on Nov. 1. 

The new regulation imposed numerous administrative responsibilities on family doctors beyond their medical duties. Additionally, doctors will face significant salary cuts due to changes in the payment system and increased performance-based payment quotas.

In response, family doctors staged a three-day nationwide strike from Nov. 5 to 7. However, the government has maintained its position, which practitioners criticized as prioritizing the quantity of treatments over their quality.

In a joint statement at the Istanbul Medical Chamber on Nov. 26, medical unions criticized the Health Ministry for imposing undue strain on healthcare workers with the newly implemented regulation. 

“The ministry continues to torment employees with this regulation. Their field visits and statements defending (the regulation) contradict reality. The regulation subjects family physicians to severe economic and professional pressures,” the unions stated. 

Doctors voiced concerns over payment cuts tied to patients' regular visits to clinics, injustices in the performance-based payment system, and patient satisfaction criteria they deemed contrary to professional ethics. They also highlighted that their salary simulations showed significant income reductions for practitioners.

The joint statement underscored that retirement benefits for doctors have diminished to almost nothing and that their salaries fall below the poverty line. Unions declared the regulation unacceptable and harmful to professional dignity.

“We refuse to work under this regulation. Once again, we call on the Health Ministry and the public: our struggle will continue until this regulation is revoked,” the unions asserted.

The TTB Family Medicine Branch had previously stated that the regulation would affect 55,000 workers in primary care centers and accelerate the growing number of resignations among doctors.

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