Turkey’s Ministry of Health has sanctioned more than 100 obstetricians and gynaecologists for performing Caesarean section deliveries, with the affected doctors fined, suspended from duty and ordered to undergo compulsory retraining as part of the government’s campaign to reduce the country’s high C-section rate.
The disciplinary measures, reported by Turkish newspaper, BirGun on Saturday, have sparked outrage among medical professionals, who argue that the government’s approach punishes doctors without addressing the underlying problems within the healthcare system.
Turkey currently has the highest Caesarean birth rate among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
According to the latest available data from 2023, about 615 out of every 1,000 live births in the country were delivered through C-section.
Medical experts told AFP that Caesarean deliveries are often preferred because they typically take about 30 minutes, compared to labour that can last up to 12 hours. They also said the procedure reduces the risk of legal action arising from childbirth complications, offering greater protection for both doctors and patients.
The latest sanctions come amid President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s “Decade of the Family” initiative, launched to address Turkey’s declining birth rate. As part of the campaign, the government has increasingly promoted what it describes as “natural births.” In April 2025, Turkey banned elective Caesarean sections at private healthcare facilities unless there is a medical justification.
According to BirGun, medical associations across the country confirmed that more than 100 doctors had been penalised over their Caesarean section rates. The Antalya Chamber of Physicians said many obstetricians received official warnings, faced disciplinary investigations, were temporarily suspended from practising and were compelled to attend antenatal training courses.
The Diken news website also reported the case of an obstetrician at a private hospital in Sakarya, near Istanbul, who was dismissed at the request of the Health Ministry over a high Caesarean rate and later suspended for six months. During the suspension, the doctor must undergo training at a state hospital and pass an examination before being allowed to resume medical practice.
Dr. Ayse Gultekingil, a senior official of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), criticised the government’s approach, insisting that penalising doctors would not solve what she described as a structural problem within Turkey’s healthcare system.
“Turkey’s caesarean birth rate exceeds 60 percent. But the method of delivery reflects various problems within Turkey’s healthcare system,” she said.
