Nearly 1B doctor visits per year in Türkiye, says report
A woman receiving chemotherapy at Mugla Provincial Hospital, seated in a chair during her treatment, Mugla, Türkiye. (Adobe Stock Photo)
The total number of doctor visits in 2023 Türkiye reached a staggering 973.5 million, with an average of 11.4 visits per person per year, according to a health statistics report released by the Ministry of Health.
This means that, on average, each person in Türkiye visited a doctor nearly once a month. This trend raises the question: “Are we really that sick?”
Soaring doctor visits: An alarming trend
According to Turkish media, the statistics show that 2023 witnessed a significant increase in the number of visits to health care providers. Family doctors saw 416 million visits, public hospitals received 424 million visits, private hospitals had 67 million visits, and university hospitals accounted for 45 million. When calculated per capita, the number of visits per person reached 11.4, which is among the highest in the world.
In comparison to countries like South Korea, Austria, and Japan, Türkiye ranks third in doctor visits. For context, the European Union average for doctor visits per person is approximately six.
Health system struggles: More visits, fewer doctors
Despite the large number of doctor visits, the number of physicians in Türkiye remains concerningly low. In 2023, the total number of doctors increased to 204,223, up by 4.9% from 2022. However, the number of doctors per 100,000 people is still behind many developed nations. In 2023, Türkiye had 239 doctors per 100,000 people, significantly lower than the EU average of 414. Greece, for example, has 661 doctors per 100,000 people.
The number of dentists is also strikingly low in Türkiye, with just 54 dentists per 100,000 people.
Hospital and surgical care: A growing burden
In 2023, the total number of hospitalizations reached 13.4 million, with the majority occurring in public hospitals. Approximately 7.6 million patients were treated in public hospitals, 1.9 million in university hospitals, and 3.7 million in private hospitals. The number of surgeries performed also showed a similar trend, with 5.9 million surgeries carried out in total.
While surgeries and hospital visits have increased, patient satisfaction has declined. The satisfaction rate in 2023 stood at 65.4%, down from 72% in 2020, indicating growing concerns about the quality of health care.
Health expenditure: Soaring costs
The total health expenditure in Türkiye for 2023 reached ₺1.2 trillion (approximately $53 billion), a dramatic 105% increase from the previous year.
The majority of this expenditure, ₺964 billion, was covered by the public sector, with Türkiye’s Social Security Institution (SGK) contributing the largest share at ₺524 billion.
The per capita health expenditure in 2023 increased by over 104% to ₺14,582.
Forecasting future: A struggling system
Looking ahead to 2024, it is predicted that both doctor visits and health care expenditures will continue to rise sharply. With a population of 85 million, Türkiye is expected to see over 1.2 billion doctor visits, alongside an increase in overall healthcare costs.
While the number of visits continues to surge, the healthcare system is struggling with a shortage of doctors, leading some to wonder if the nation is truly as sick as the statistics suggest or if the system itself is overwhelmed.
