Turkey has suspended more than 100 obstetricians and gynaecologists as part of a nationwide campaign to reduce the country’s high rate of caesarean deliveries, following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s push for more “natural births” under his family-focused population policy.
According to local reports, Turkey’s Ministry of Health sanctioned the doctors by issuing fines, suspending them from medical practice, and requiring them to undergo compulsory training after authorities found they were associated with high rates of caesarean deliveries.
The disciplinary measures are part of President Erdoğan’s “Decade of the Family” initiative, launched in 2025 to tackle Turkey’s declining birth rate and encourage natural childbirth whenever medically possible. The government has repeatedly argued that unnecessary caesarean sections should be discouraged in favour of vaginal deliveries.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that Turkey recorded the highest caesarean section rate among its 38 member countries in 2023, with approximately 615 caesarean births per 1,000 live births.
Medical experts, however, say the issue is more complex than government policy suggests. Doctors told AFP that many caesarean deliveries are chosen because they typically take around 30 minutes, compared to vaginal births, which can last up to 12 hours. They also noted that caesarean procedures can reduce uncertainty during delivery and help minimise the risk of medical malpractice claims arising from childbirth complications.
In April 2025, the Turkish government introduced a ban on elective caesarean sections in private hospitals unless there was a clear medical indication for the procedure.
The Antalya Chamber of Physicians confirmed that many affected doctors had received official warnings, faced disciplinary investigations, been temporarily suspended from practice, and ordered to attend antenatal care training programmes because of the country’s elevated caesarean section rates.
In a separate case, Turkish news outlet Diken reported that an obstetrician working at a private hospital near Istanbul was dismissed at the request of the Ministry of Health after recording a high caesarean delivery rate. The physician was also suspended for six months and must complete additional training at a state hospital and pass a competency examination before returning to practice.
The sanctions have drawn criticism from sections of the medical community. Dr. Ayse Gultekingil of the Turkish Medical Association argued that penalising doctors would not solve the underlying challenges facing the country’s healthcare system.
“Turkey’s caesarean birth rate exceeds 60 per cent. But the method of delivery reflects various problems within Turkey’s healthcare system,” she said, urging authorities to address systemic issues rather than placing responsibility solely on healthcare professionals.
The government’s latest actions have sparked fresh debate over the balance between promoting public health policies and preserving doctors’ clinical independence in deciding the safest delivery method for mothers and babies.