Nearly 9,000 inspections conducted at private healthcare institutions in Istanbul

Istanbul Provincial Health Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Emre Güner announced that more than 8,800 inspections were carried out on private healthcare facilities in Istanbul in 2025, resulting in fines exceeding 112 million Turkish lira. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Güner stated that people from over 200 countries come to Istanbul for healthcare services, demonstrating that Turkey’s healthcare system serves as a model for the world.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining continuity in the healthcare system and improving service quality, Güner said the goal of inspections is not merely to issue penalties but to ensure that patients receive accurate, high-quality, and effective medical care. He added that they have implemented a unique inspection approach specific to Istanbul: “Since the time our Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, served as Provincial Health Director, we have followed a ‘double-blind inspection’ system. In this system, neither the inspector nor the inspected party knows when or by whom the inspection will take place. We send our inspectors with encrypted messages as part of this process,” he explained.

“WE CONSIDER EVERY COMPLAINT”

Güner noted that inspections are not only routine but also unannounced and extraordinary when necessary. He continued: “In 2024, we carried out over 17,000 inspections in Istanbul, 3,400 of which were extraordinary. We imposed fines exceeding 80 million lira in 2024. We maintained the same pace in 2025, conducting more than 8,800 inspections at private healthcare institutions and issuing fines totaling over 112 million lira. Whether it involves suspension of activities or initiation of legal proceedings, we carry out inspections without discrimination between public and private institutions, and regardless of whether they are hospitals, medical centers, dental clinics, or polyclinics.”

Güner emphasized that inspections will continue in order to maintain high-quality healthcare services. He also pointed out that citizens can reach out through various channels: “People can file complaints through the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER), submit petitions directly to the Provincial Health Directorate, or contact us via our 39 district health directorates. Whether it’s through phone calls, social media, or any other platform, we take every complaint and report seriously, respond strictly, and follow up thoroughly,” he said.