Turkey’s health ministry has fined more than 100 obstetrician-gynecologists for performing excessive Caesarean sections, suspending them and requiring mandatory retraining before they can resume work, officials said on July 11, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].

Turkey recorded the highest rate of Caesarean births among 38 OECD countries in 2023, with around 615 procedures per 1,000 live births—equivalent to over 60 percent of deliveries being by Caesarean section [1, 2, 3, 4]. The government launched the "Decade of the Family" program to lower this rate and promote natural childbirth [1, 2, 3, 4].

In April 2025, authorities banned elective Caesarean deliveries at private hospitals without a medical reason [1, 2, 3, 4]. Disciplinary actions against doctors included warnings, investigations, suspensions, forced antenatal training, and exams before allowing them to return to practice [1, 2, 3, 4].

Medical professionals say Caesarean sections are often favored because the procedure lasts about 30 minutes, compared to up to 12 hours for traditional labor, making it more convenient and reducing legal risks associated with complications [1, 2, 3, 4].

One obstetrician at a private hospital near Istanbul was suspended for six months, dismissed, retrained, and had to pass an exam before resuming work [1, 2, 3, 4].

Doctors and medical associations have criticized the punitive approach, arguing it does not address deeper systemic healthcare issues, including malpractice pressures. Dr. Ayse Gultekingil of the Turkish Medical Association said, "Turkey’s caesarean birth rate exceeds 60 percent. But the method of delivery reflects various problems within Turkey’s healthcare system" [2, 3, 4].

The health ministry’s actions follow years of rising Caesarean rates seen as unsustainable and partly driven by defensive medicine practices. The retraining aims to encourage safer, medically appropriate delivery choices.

The government is monitoring compliance with the policy and preparing further educational efforts for obstetricians nationwide [1, 2, 3, 4].