Turkish health ministry challenges Der Spiegel’s reporting on newborn deaths
Fourteen suspects were sent to court in Istanbul for allegedly orchestrating newborn deaths and profiting through illicit transfers to private hospitals, Istanbul, Türkiye, Dec. 6, 2024. (AA Photo)
The health ministry issued an unprecedented statement in German language on Tuesday, strongly contesting Der Spiegel’s reporting on a hospital scandal involving newborn deaths in Istanbul, marking an unusual diplomatic approach to addressing foreign media coverage.
The ministry specifically challenged Der Spiegel’s portrayal of Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu’s role in the investigation of what Turkish authorities call the “Newborn Gang.”
According to the ministry’s statement, Memisoglu led the investigation that ultimately uncovered the criminal network during his tenure as Istanbul’s health director.
The investigation, which concluded in October 2024, resulted in the immediate closure of several hospitals after ministry inspectors reviewed thousands of pages of documents.
The judicial authorities had transferred the investigation documents to the Health Ministry’s inspectors on Sept. 3, 2024, leading to the discovery of direct links between infant deaths and negligence by the accused.
In its detailed rebuttal, the ministry also challenged Der Spiegel’s statistics regarding Istanbul’s healthcare facilities.
The ministry stated that Istanbul currently has 238 hospitals, not 234, as reported by Der Spiegel, with 144 private sector facilities rather than the reported 164. Of Istanbul’s total bed capacity of 45,962, the ministry specified that 33.58% (15,435 beds) belong to private healthcare institutions.
The ministry also addressed what it called a factual error regarding the timeline of leadership positions.
According to the statement, Memisoglu assumed his role as Istanbul’s Health Director on Oct. 6, 2016, under then-Health Minister Recep Akdag, not during Mehmet Muezzinoglu’s tenure as claimed in the Der Spiegel article.
