The number of doctors has dropped to a critical level!
According to the latest data prepared by the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, Turkey ranks last among OECD countries in terms of the number of doctors per 1,000 people.
One of the biggest problems in Turkey's healthcare sector is the shortage of doctors and their migration abroad. According to the most recent data collected by the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD) as of 2023, Turkey ranks last among OECD countries in terms of the number of doctors per 1,000 people.
According to AİFD, Turkey has only 2.3 doctors per 1,000 people, whereas the OECD average is 3.7. With this ratio, Turkey falls behind even Mexico and Colombia, placing it at the bottom of the list.
At the top of the list are Greece (6.6 doctors), Portugal (5.7 doctors), and Austria (5.5 doctors). Given that many European countries have between 4 and 5 doctors per 1,000 people, Turkey’s low doctor-to-population ratio creates a significant gap in the healthcare system.
Another striking point in the data is the highly uneven distribution of doctors across OECD countries. While Turkey has nearly half the OECD average in terms of doctors, many European countries are far above this level.
Increasing Doctor Migration in Turkey
Another factor worsening the doctor shortage in Turkey is the rapidly rising emigration of healthcare professionals in recent years. According to the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the number of doctors who applied to work abroad reached 3,025 in 2023. This means that, on average, 8 doctors leave Turkey every day.
Doctor migration continued at full speed in 2024 as well. In the first three months of the year, 692 doctors received documents to work abroad. While this number was 2,685 in 2022, it exceeded 3,000 in 2023, breaking the record of the last 10 years.
A large number of migrating doctors are heading to countries like Germany, the UK, and Canada. Experts point out that the challenging working conditions, violence in the healthcare sector, low salaries, and increasing professional pressure are forcing Turkish doctors to leave the country.
WHY ARE DOCTORS LEAVING?
The main reasons pushing doctors to move abroad are:
Heavy Working Conditions: The number of patients per doctor in public hospitals in Turkey is significantly higher than in OECD countries. Many doctors report having to see between 70 and 100 patients per day.
Low Salaries: Doctor salaries in Turkey are much lower than in Europe and the US. Private hospitals and opportunities abroad are becoming more attractive.
Violence in Healthcare: In Turkey, an average of five healthcare workers face physical assault daily. According to "White Code" records, more than 72,000 cases of violence occurred in 2020.
Lack of Professional Satisfaction: Many doctors say that long shifts, workplace pressure, and the devaluation of their profession make working in Turkey increasingly difficult.
IS THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN DANGER?
If doctor migration continues, Turkey could face serious disruptions in healthcare services. The departure of specialist doctors, in particular, is causing shortages in certain medical fields. For example, some public hospitals have been forced to close certain clinics due to a lack of specialists.
Since the number of doctors per capita in Turkey is already below the OECD average, every doctor leaving the country increases the strain on the healthcare system. Experts warn that if no action is taken, Turkey could face a severe healthcare crisis in the coming years.
WHAT DO EXPERTS SAY?
Experts agree on one thing: urgent improvements in working conditions, salaries, and security are necessary to retain doctors in the country. Otherwise, both the brain drain and the damage to Turkey’s healthcare system will continue to grow.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has strongly criticized the government's inaction, stating that "instead of stopping doctor migration, saying ‘let them leave’ is shameful."
Ultimately, the doctor migration crisis is not just a problem for medical professionals—it directly affects public health. The only way out of this crisis appears to be listening to doctors and ensuring they have the working conditions they deserve.
