The Fundamental Law on Health Services (Law No. 3359), enacted in 1987, establishes the core principles for organizing and managing healthcare services across Turkey. It outlines both the rights and responsibilities of healthcare providers, patients, and institutions while emphasizing universal access, efficiency, and quality in healthcare delivery.
The objective of the law is to regulate the essential principles and frameworks governing healthcare services in Turkey. It applies to all public and private institutions within the healthcare sector, with the exception of the Ministry of National Defense.
One of the core concepts is ensuring that healthcare services are available throughout the country, focusing on equal, high-quality, and efficient care. This involves planning and coordination by the Ministry of Health, with input from other ministries where necessary. The emphasis on preventive healthcare is evident, as institutions are encouraged to avoid unnecessary resource waste by optimizing existing capacity and service delivery.
The law further establishes principles to ensure the balanced distribution of healthcare facilities and personnel across the country. Both public and private healthcare providers must follow ministry regulations regarding service fees and operational standards. It introduces provisions for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and quality control of healthcare services, ensuring that institutions comply with established standards through education and self-regulation.
The law also emphasizes the use of modern medical technologies and practices. A significant provision involves the establishment of a national health information system to track healthcare data, enhancing service effectiveness through electronic records and data sharing across institutions.
The law addresses workforce development, mandating coordination between the Ministry of Health and higher education institutions to train qualified healthcare professionals. It also enforces regulations on drug and medical supply management, including licensing, quality control, and the prevention of misuse. Other key provisions include promoting public health education, particularly in areas such as maternal and child health, family planning, and disease prevention.
Concepts and Implementation Focus:
- All residents are entitled to equal access to healthcare services across Turkey.
- Emphasis on preventive care aims to reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve population health outcomes.
- Institutions must avoid resource wastage and underutilization by coordinating services effectively.
- Encourages the adoption of advanced technologies and a robust information system to improve healthcare delivery and monitoring.
- Ensures that healthcare personnel are adequately trained and distributed across regions to prevent service disparities.
Turkey’s healthcare system, guided by the Fundamental Law on Health Services and subsequent reforms, has made significant progress in improving access, quality, and efficiency. Further information about Turkey’s healthcare system’s regulation can be found here.
