Alarm in surgery: If things continue this way, Turkey will not be able to find surgeons

In the medical profession, the TUS base scores thatshape specialty preferenceshave seen a notable declineinrecentyears. Youngphysicians, due to intenseinstead of core branches that require intense contact, they show atendency to turn toward departments where patient interaction, performanceburden, on-call shifts, and legal risks are lower.This trend is becoming evident.Surgical branches, general surgery, obstetrics andgynecology, and

other surgical fields are being avoided.This situation poses a significant risk for the future of healthcare. The decline in base scores in branches that form the backbone of the health system, such as pediatrics,has also led to a decrease in the preference rates for these fields.Theprocess

iscausinghealthcare workersFactors such as the increase inincidents of violence against healthcare workers, the performance-based system, theincrease in the numberof shifts, and economic conditions failing to reflect the value of the profession are cited as reasons. The rising numberof malpractice lawsuitsand the deterrent nature of the penalties also place additional pressureon young physicians.can constitute a factor.

Evaluating the issue, Dr. Sedat, Vice President of the Physicians' Union responsible for organization, Özbay, stated that these professionswere previouslyrewarded, adding, "I am sure that if thiscontinues this way,inas long asin the near future, in these core branches especially in surgical branchesthe number of physicians who will operate on us will decrease significantly. The Ministry of Health especially the surgical branches'preferenceto ensure that it is of aquality that can bechosen, the necessaryregulations must be implemented. Otherwise, in a veryshorttime, we willunfortunately no longer be able to find our colleagues who perform surgeries and our specialist physicians in core branches.will not be able to see" he said."We have no

young physician colleagues left."Stating that physician colleagues are now turningaway from high-risk specialties

toward specialties with less patient interaction,Sedatpointed out that Özbay said, "In recent years, unfortunately, young physicians have started to turn toward branches that avoid patient interaction, meaning they avoid being with the patient. Unfortunately, physicians now feel that they are being devalued, that they cannot escape the drudgery of performance-based systems, and they are fleeing a system where their labor is devalued. increasinglywith patients, they have started to turn tothese branchesinstead. So there are anumber of reasons for this. Of course, it is not that young physiciansdo not choose these branches, but rather why theydo notchoose them.made it unbearableit is necessary to question. Because nowphysicians are under the weight ofperformanceburdens. Violence has now become commonplace. Labor has been devalued, and increasing nshifts and work lthe burden has reachedan unbearablelevel. At the same time,the fact that the corresponding economic conditions have not been at a sufficient level has unfortunately driven these physician colleagues away from high-risk branches toward fields with less patient interaction.Especially in what we call core branches,internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetricsand gynecology branches are no longer being chosen by youngwe have no young physician colleagues left," he said."The number of physicians will decrease"

He stated that there must be

regulations in placeto ensure that thesebranches remainattractive optionsfor medical graduates.Özbay said, "Now these were professions that wererewarded in the past. Now, there areincredible penalties involved. Physician colleaguesprefer to shift to other branches where there is no patient interaction, both out of fear of malpractice lawsuits. Both within societyand among physiciansthemselves. The highlyvaluable core branches of general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and pediatrics have unfortunately seen their scores drop in recentyears, and the fact that they arestillnotbeingchosen is not actually due to the physician colleagues themselves, but rather why the healthcare system makes these branches somade it unbearablethat depends on solvingI believe that. I am sure that if thiscontinues this wayfor aperiod, in the nearfuture, in these core branches especially in surgical specialties, the number of physicians who will operate on us will decrease significantly. The Ministry of Health must ensure that thesesurgical specialties become attractiveoptions.regulations must bemade. Otherwise, in a veryshorttime, we willunfortunately no longer be able to see our physician colleagues who perform surgeries and our specialist physicians in core branchesin thefuture," he said.