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Turkey has fined more than 100 obstetrician-gynaecologists for performing Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries, with many also suspended from practice and ordered to undergo retraining, according to local media, as the government intensifies efforts to curb elective surgical births.
The move is part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s campaign to reverse falling birth rates and encourage what his government describes as “natural births” under its “Decade of the Family” initiative.
According to BirGun newspaper, the disciplinary action has affected more than 100 obstetricians across the country, triggering strong criticism from medical professionals who argue that the government’s approach fails to address the underlying problems within Turkey’s healthcare system.
Turkey recorded the highest Caesarean section rate among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2023. OECD data show that about 615 out of every 1,000 live births in the country were delivered by C-section.
Doctors have long argued that C-sections are often preferred because they are significantly quicker than vaginal deliveries, reducing the time required from medical staff while also lowering the risk of legal disputes arising from childbirth complications.
Medical professionals say a Caesarean procedure typically takes around 30 minutes, whereas a natural birth can last many hours, placing additional pressure on hospitals already struggling with staff shortages and heavy patient loads.
The Turkish government, however, has expressed concern over the growing number of elective C-sections carried out without clear medical necessity.
In April 2025, authorities banned private healthcare facilities from performing non-medically justified Caesarean deliveries, marking a significant shift in maternity care policy.
According to the Antalya Chamber of Physicians, many obstetricians have received formal warnings, faced disciplinary proceedings, been temporarily suspended from practising and ordered to attend compulsory antenatal training because of their high Caesarean rates.
One widely reported case involved an obstetrician working at a private hospital in Sakarya, near Istanbul. According to the Diken news website, the physician was dismissed following a request from the Health Ministry and later suspended from medical practice for six months because of a high number of Caesarean deliveries.
The doctor has reportedly been instructed to complete training at a state hospital before taking an examination. Only after successfully passing the exam will the physician be allowed to resume practising.
The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) has strongly criticised the government’s punitive approach.
Dr Ayse Gultekingil, a senior TTB official, told BirGun that Turkey’s Caesarean rate is the result of systemic shortcomings rather than individual doctors’ decisions.
“Turkey’s Caesarean birth rate exceeds 60 percent. But the method of delivery reflects various problems within Turkey’s healthcare system,” she said.
Healthcare experts argue that reducing unnecessary Caesarean deliveries will require broader reforms, including improvements in maternity care, staffing levels, patient education, hospital infrastructure and legal protections for physicians, rather than disciplinary measures alone.