Gürkut: "No Support for Public Health, Focus on Private Sector Referrals"

Gürkut pointed out the insufficiency of funds designated for public health services, contrasting it with the substantial increase foreseen for private hospital referral allocations, denouncing the government's approach.

Health Ministry's Budget Increase Benefits Private Sector

While the Health Ministry’s 2024 budget, including amendments, was 9.1 billion TL, the proposed 2025 budget indicates a 41% rise to 12.8 billion TL. However, despite this increase, most of the funds are aimed at referrals to private hospitals rather than developing public health services. Gürkut highlighted that the 379% rise in referral allocations reveals a plan to divert resources to the private sector instead of strengthening public health.

Significant Rise in Referral Allocations

The budget for overseas medical referrals has been raised from 190 million TL in 2024 to 500 million TL in 2025. Domestic private hospital referral allocations have increased from 330 million TL in 2024 to a projected 1.25 billion TL for 2025.

Gürkut noted that these trends indicate that limited resources will be shifted towards the private sector, neglecting the enhancement of public healthcare systems.

"Public Health Must Be Developed, Preventing Doctor Migration Essential"

Dr. Gürkut pointed out that deficiencies in infrastructure, equipment, and the number of medical professionals in public health centers lead to increased patient referrals. She emphasized the need to bolster public healthcare and improve working conditions for doctors:

"The primary duty of the Health Ministry is to use public resources for the benefit of the people and enhance the healthcare services needed by patients. The government must implement policies that support robust public healthcare services and abandon plans to redirect limited resources to the private sector."

"Greater Share of General Budget Needed for Health"

Tıp-İş called for an increase in the health allocation from the general budget, to be utilized for the development of public health services.

Dr. Gürkut stressed that access to healthcare, a constitutional right, must be ensured through a modern and equitable system:

"Developing public health services and expanding preventive and therapeutic care is essential for meeting the needs of our people. To prevent doctor migration, working conditions must be improved, and the health budget should be dedicated to public health."

Tıp-İş warned that continued policy errors in healthcare could weaken public services and endanger citizens' right to health.