Comprehensive Regulations for Private Healthcare Institutions: Enhancing Patient Safety, Service Quality, and Operational Standards

New Standards for Medical Centers

📌 Accreditation Requirement: Medical centers must now obtain accreditation from the Turkish Health Services Quality and Accreditation Institute (TÜSKA) to operate. This aims to enhance healthcare service quality and assurance.

📌 Electronic Record System: Patient information, treatment processes, and medical interventions must be digitally recorded to ensure data security and better health record management.

📌 New Criteria for Birth Units: Medical centers with maternity units will be subject to stricter regulations, ensuring better maternal and neonatal healthcare.

📌 Updated Surgical Unit Standards: Medical centers operating 24/7 and meeting necessary conditions can establish emergency units and surgical departments, with scientifically revised medical operation standards.

 

Regulations on Establishing and Operating Private Healthcare Institutions

📌 New Healthcare Institutions Will Follow Annual Planning: The opening of new private healthcare institutions will be assessed based on annual planning and demand, preventing arbitrary establishment.

📌 Individuals Banned from Practicing Medicine Cannot Own Healthcare Facilities: According to Law No. 1219, individuals prohibited from practicing medicine cannot establish private healthcare institutions, while those who had their licenses revoked are banned from opening a facility for five years.

📌 Encouragement for Clinics to Transition into Medical Centers: Two or more clinics merging into a medical center will be encouraged, providing staffing benefits and operational advantages.

📌 Medical Procedures in Private Practices Have Been Revised: The scope of medical procedures in private clinics has been updated to align with modern medical standards to improve diagnosis and treatment processes.

📌 New Standards for Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers: Updated building and infrastructure criteria were introduced to enhance patient comfort and service effectiveness in physical therapy and rehabilitation centers.

 

Strengthened Patient Safety and Oversight Mechanisms

📌 Medical treatments must strictly comply with scientific standards, and Ministry of Health inspections will become more stringent.
📌 Sterilization, medication use, and patient care protocols will undergo enhanced safety measures.
📌 Licensing and permit procedures for private healthcare institutions will be more transparent and standardized.

 

Ongoing Structural Reforms in Healthcare

These regulatory updates aim to enhance service quality, ensure patient safety, and create a more organized and reliable healthcare sector. The Ministry of Health is committed to reinforcing patient rights and safety with new oversight mechanisms.

Monitoring how these changes impact healthcare professionals, patients, and institutions in the coming months will be crucial.