Changes to family medicine practice regulation: Published in the Official Gazette

With the changes published in the Official Gazette, if citizens do not change their family physician within 30 days of changing their address, they will be automatically registered with the nearest and most appropriate family physician according to their new place of residence.

New family health centers and family medicine units will be planned to reduce the population per family physician.

In accordance with health service planning, automatic changes to individuals' family physician registrations will be made, particularly in areas with high population density, and appointments will be made for family physicians serving in these units.

By reducing the population per family physician, the goal is to establish a more effective physician-patient relationship, allow more time for patients for all family medicine services, especially preventive health services, and increase the quality of family medicine services.

At the same time, in the event of a change in family physician, minimum and maximum levels for the number of people registered to family medicine units will be determined, aiming to ensure that neither family medicine staff nor citizens experience any grievances regarding personal rights and access to services.

The 3-month limitation period for changing family physicians will be reduced to 1 month.

24/7 ACCESSIBLE HEALTH SERVICE TARGETED

With the amendment, services such as emergency health services, forensic procedures, and burial permits will be provided more regularly and effectively in integrated health centers. Citizens will be provided with uninterrupted health services in these centers, which operate 24/7.

Furthermore, flexibility will be provided for district state hospitals where family medicine units are located, allowing family health centers to be positioned in district centers as well.

With the new regulation, the process of opening and licensing family health centers will be accelerated. Additionally, family health centers can now be opened within living spaces such as apartment buildings. Solutions will also be provided for family health centers that need to be relocated due to urban transformation and zoning regulations, preventing grievances for citizens.

PRIORITY FOR FAMILY MEDICINE SPECIALISTS

The transition of family medicine specialists to family health centers will be accelerated. Family medicine specialists will now be able to prioritize choosing one of every two vacant units. With this regulation, a significant increase in the number of family medicine specialists is targeted. Thus, it is aimed that citizens will encounter specialist doctors more frequently in primary healthcare services, and trust in health services will increase.

News Source: İHA