Turkey Suspends Over 100 Doctors in C-Section Crackdown as President Erdoğan Pushes Vaginal Births to Raise Birth Rate

More than 100 obstetrician-gynecologists in Turkey have been fined, temporarily suspended, and ordered to undergo mandatory antenatal training after authorities took action over high Caesarean section rates, according to BirGün, which cited medical associations across the country.

The enforcement action follows Turkey's April 2025 ban on elective Caesarean sections at private hospitals without a medical indication and marks the latest step in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's "Decade of the Family" initiative to encourage vaginal births and address the country's declining birth rate.

However, the decision has drawn criticism from medical organizations, which argue that Turkey's high Caesarean section rate stems from broader structural issues within the healthcare system rather than individual doctors' clinical decisions.

Turkey recorded the highest Caesarean section rate among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s 38 member countries in 2023, with 615 out of every 1,000 live births delivered by Caesarean section.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that while Cesarean section rates up to around 10% at the population level are associated with reductions in maternal and newborn mortality, higher rates are not linked to additional reductions in mortality. WHO does not recommend a specific target rate for individual countries or hospitals.

The government's latest action against obstetricians comes as it seeks to reduce elective surgical births and promote vaginal delivery.

Turkey has also experienced a sustained decline in fertility rates in recent years, and the government has linked higher birth rates to broader national demographic goals.

The enforcement measures follow Turkey's April 2025 regulation banning elective Caesarean sections at private healthcare facilities without medical justification. The regulation aligns with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's broader maternal health and family policy, which has promoted what the government describes as "natural births" while discouraging medically unnecessary Caesarean deliveries.

In a statement published on its official website, the Antalya Chamber of Physicians said affected obstetricians had been "issued with warnings, subjected to disciplinary investigations, temporarily suspended from practicing, and compelled to attend antenatal training courses" because of the country's high Caesarean section rates.

According to BirGün, citing medical associations, the enforcement measures have prompted criticism from healthcare professionals across Turkey.

Also see: Turkey Bans Elective C-Sections at Private Clinics Amid Uproar

A Cesarean section is a surgical method of childbirth used when a vaginal delivery could pose a risk to the mother or baby. Doctors may recommend the procedure in situations such as fetal distress, placenta previa, obstructed labor, certain multiple pregnancies, or other complications where a vaginal birth may not be the safest option.

In an interview with MedBound Times, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Banka Soujanya said Caesarean sections should be performed only when medically indicated.

"In my practice, I have never encountered a gynecologist who performs a C-section without a valid medical indication," she said, adding that "the goal is to save both mother and baby."

Dr. Soujanya also noted that hospitals are subject to audits and documentation requirements for Caesarean deliveries, and doctors "have to justify" the indication for every C-section under established clinical criteria.

The government's action has drawn criticism from the Turkish Medical Association (TTB). Speaking to BirGün, Dr. Ayşe Gültekingil, a senior TTB official, said penalizing physicians would not reduce Turkey's Caesarean section rate because the problem extends beyond individual clinical decisions. "Turkey's cesarean birth rate exceeds 60 per cent. But the method of delivery reflects various problems within Turkey's healthcare system," she said.

Separately, Diken reported that an obstetrician at a private hospital in Sakarya, near Istanbul, was dismissed at the Health Ministry's request after recording a high number of Caesarean deliveries. The physician was later suspended for six months, required to complete training at a state-run hospital, and must pass an examination before becoming eligible to resume medical practice.

Also see: Why More Births Now End in Cesarean Section

Turkey's latest action against obstetricians has intensified debate over how governments should address rising Cesarean section rates while preserving physicians' clinical judgment. While the government maintains that reducing medically unnecessary Cesarean deliveries is part of its broader effort to encourage vaginal births and reverse declining birth rates, medical organizations argue that disciplinary action alone will not resolve the underlying challenges within the healthcare system.

Whether disciplinary action will reduce medically unnecessary Caesarean deliveries remains uncertain, but the policy has intensified debate over how governments should balance public health goals with physicians' clinical autonomy and women's reproductive healthcare choices.

References:

1. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Health at a Glance 2025: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2025. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/health-at-a-glance-2025_8f9e3f98-en.html

2. Turkish Medical Association (Türk Tabipleri Birliği). Official Website. Accessed July 13, 2026. Available at: https://www.ttb.org.tr/

3. Antalya Chamber of Physicians (Antalya Tabip Odası). Official Website. Accessed July 13, 2026. Available at: https://www.antalyatabip.org.tr/

4. World Health Organization. WHO Statement on Caesarean Section Rates. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2015. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-RHR-15.02

(Rh/TP/MSM)