There is one doctor for every 653 people in Turkey, where the largest number of
doctors is in Istanbul and the smallest number is in the northeastern province
of Bayburt, a study has revealed.
The Turkish Health Care Workers' Union (Türk Saglik-Sen) issued a report mapping
physician density throughout Turkey by region and province on the occasion of
Medicine Day, which is celebrated today in Turkey. The study revealed that there
are nearly 108,000 doctors in the country, 62,926 of whom are working at
institutions controlled by the Turkish Health Ministry. Among those who are
working for the ministry, 26,330 doctors are specialists while the other 36,596
are general practitioners and assistants.
The report further revealed that Istanbul, the most crowded province of Turkey,
has the highest number of doctors with 7,039. Istanbul is followed by Ankara
with 4,783 and Izmir with 3,962. Bayburt has the lowest number of doctors in the
country with 77. The eastern province of Tunceli and the northeastern province
of Ardahan follow Bayburt with 78 and 80 doctors, respectively.
According to the report, Turkey ranks 52nd in terms of physician density on the
World Health Organization's (WHO) European zone rankings, which cover 53
countries, and is at the bottom of the list when it comes to the ratio of nurses
to population.
The report noted that while health services have quadrupled, the need for health
care workers has not been met. Highlighting that the number of clinics had
increased from 66 million in 2002 to 217 million in 2008, the report said, "The
self-sacrificing work of health care workers lies behind the success achieved in
health services." It was further noted in the report that important developments
in the infrastructure of health services have been achieved during the past five
years; however, the report said Turkey falls short in its personnel policies and
employment of medical staff.
Evaluating the study findings in the report, Türk Saglik-Sen President Önder
Kahveci stated that in a country where there is one doctor for every 653 people,
the doctor problem must be solved. He said the conditions that medical personnel
have to work under are shameful and even dangerous. "Health care workers are
providing services, and so to say, putting their lives in danger," he added.
