The migration of Turkish physicians abroad has become a growing trend in recent years, highlighting systemic issues in the country’s healthcare sector. According to data from the Turkish Medical Association (TMA), 2,692 physicians obtained a Certificate of Good Conduct to work abroad in 2024. While this marks a slight decrease from the 3,025 applications in 2023, experts attribute this drop to stricter visa policies in European countries rather than an improvement in domestic conditions.
Underlying Causes of Physician Migration
TMA Central Council Member Nilüfer Ustael has pointed to various factors pushing physicians to leave Turkey. “The pressure of five-minute examinations, low salaries, long working hours, and social poverty create serious stress on physicians,” Ustael explained.
Key issues driving migration include:
- Poor Working Conditions: Physicians face excessive workloads, inadequate wages, and limited social security benefits. The burden of compulsory service further exacerbates dissatisfaction.
- Mobbing and Devaluation: Doctors often experience harassment from patients, colleagues, and administrators. This, combined with the growing devaluation of the profession, leads to feelings of burnout and worthlessness.
- Imbalanced Staffing and Education Quality: Inconsistent staffing levels in training hospitals negatively impact both medical education and professional standards. Medical faculties opening across the country have led to a decline in education quality, further harming the profession’s reputation.
- Violence and Short Appointment Times: The five-minute consultation limit frustrates both patients and physicians, disrupting the quality of care and often resulting in conflicts. Violence against healthcare workers remains a significant issue.
A Widening Trend Among Young Doctors
The trend is not limited to experienced physicians. Many medical students are preparing to leave Turkey after graduation. A surge in interest in German language courses suggests that countries like Germany are becoming popular destinations for young doctors seeking better opportunities.
Psychological Toll on Remaining Physicians
For those unable to leave, the challenges of working in Turkey’s healthcare system take a heavy psychological toll. Ustael highlighted rising cases of depression, social isolation, and suicide among physicians. “This situation causes doctors to move away not only from their profession but also from life itself,” she noted, urging organizations like the Turkish Psychiatric Association and the TMA to investigate these issues further.
Broader Implications
The ongoing migration of healthcare professionals raises serious concerns about the sustainability of Turkey’s healthcare system. With poor working conditions, a decline in education quality, and increasing violence, the challenges in the health sector seem to deepen. As Ustael concluded, “Physicians are looking for a solution abroad, and unless systemic changes are made, this trend will only accelerate.”
The situation calls for immediate reforms to address the working conditions, professional dignity, and psychological well-being of healthcare workers to prevent further erosion of Turkey’s medical workforce.
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