Erdogan targets C-section rates with fines and bans in Turkey
Turkey's health ministry has fined over 100 obstetrician-gynaecologists for performing cesarean sections, suspending them from duty and mandating retraining. The country leads the OECD with 615 C-sections per 1,000 live births in 2023, the highest among the 38 nations. Medical professionals cite efficiency—30 minutes versus 12 hours for natural birth—and reduced legal risk as reasons for the high rate. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, under his "Decade of the Family" initiative, is pushing for "natural" births to address elective C-sections. In April 2025, the government banned such procedures at private facilities without medical justification. The crackdown has sparked backlash from healthcare professionals, who argue the measures prioritize ideology over patient safety.
Key facts
- Turkey has the highest C-section rate among OECD nations, with 615 per 1,000 live births in 2023.
- Over 100 doctors have been fined, suspended, and forced to undergo training for performing C-sections.
- C-sections take 30 minutes versus 12 hours for natural births, according to medical professionals.
- President Erdogan's 'Decade of the Family' initiative aims to reduce elective C-sections.
- In April 2025, the government banned C-sections at private facilities without medical justification.
- Medical staff say C-sections lower legal risk and ensure safety for both doctor and patient.
- The crackdown has provoked backlash from healthcare professionals in Turkey.
- Erdogan, a pious Muslim, advocates for so-called natural births.
Entities
Institutions
- Turkish health ministry
- OECD
- Turkish government
Locations
- Turkey
- Istanbul