Mental Health Drug Shortage Deepens in Türkiye Amid Fixed Currency Policy

Access to essential mental health medications in Türkiye is becoming increasingly difficult, as a growing number of treatments for depression, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and bipolar disorder vanish from pharmacy shelves. According to the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association (TEB), the issue stems from a rigid foreign exchange rate system that discourages pharmaceutical companies from introducing new medications into the Turkish market.

Türkiye’s drug pricing model, which is tied to a fixed Euro exchange rate, is making it financially unviable for companies to continue importing or launching medications, particularly those used in psychiatric treatment. As of 2025, the pricing system pegs the Euro at 21.67 TL, a rate significantly below the market value. This artificial cap erodes profit margins, prompting many international firms to pull out of the Turkish pharmaceutical market altogether.

Taner Ercanlı, a board member of TEB, told Cumhuriyet newspaper that the shortages are especially severe for medications used in treating neuropsychiatric disorders like depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. The situation is not only affecting patients’ access to existing treatments but also preventing access to newly developed therapies available globally.

“Firms are avoiding Türkiye due to low pricing. This affects not only existing medications but also prevents access to new drug molecules,” Ercanlı said. “Advanced treatments like biotechnological, nanotechnological, and smart drugs are being held back from entering the country.”

Ercanlı emphasized that for pharmacists, availability is critical, saying:

“The most expensive medicine is the one you can’t find.”

He underlined that pharmacists’ primary concern is ensuring patients receive the medications prescribed to them. In light of the growing crisis, the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association has issued a public call to health authorities, urging them to reassess the fixed rate policy and remove obstacles that hinder medicine accessibility.