Family medicine regulation changed: New regulations in effect

Changes made to the Family Medicine Practice Regulation have been published in the Official Gazette and have entered into force. With the new regulation, updates have been made in many areas regarding the status, physical conditions, personnel structure, and service processes of family health centers.

In the regulation, it was clearly stated that family health centers are public health institutions. While the minimum physical conditions of the service venues were rearranged according to needs, it was stipulated that materials used jointly in the centers belong to the institution. In addition, the list regarding medical devices and consumables used in service delivery was updated and made clearer.

REGULATION ON INCENTIVES FOR PERSONNEL EMPLOYMENT

Changes were made to the procedures and principles regarding the employment of personnel working in the family medicine system. With the regulation, it is aimed to increase the number of family physicians and family health workers. Physicians who left their posts due to military service or childbirth while serving as family physicians were granted priority rights if they wish to return to duty. The conditions for the use of this right were detailed, and the periods regarding the application process were clarified.

NEW PRACTICE AGAINST VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

The regulation also included a new arrangement to be applied in cases of violence against healthcare workers. Accordingly, in the event of a violent incident, the citizen's family physician registration will primarily be transferred to a different family health center. If there is no other center in the region where the person resides, they will be directed to a different family medicine unit within the same center.

TIME LIMIT IMPOSED ON ADAPTATION TRAININGS

Training regulations regarding the transition process to the family medicine system were also updated. Accordingly, it has become mandatory for personnel included in the practice to complete their first-stage adaptation training within three months from the date they start their duty. In addition, processes regarding the use of the Ministry of Health's Family Medicine Information System were also included in the regulation.

ROOM LAYOUT CHANGED IN FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS

Within the scope of regulations regarding physical conditions, room criteria in family health centers were redefined. The additional room requirement, which was previously mandatory for every four physicians, was changed to one room for every five physicians with the new regulation. In order to bring unused rooms into the system, it is planned to evaluate these areas as family medicine units.