31/01/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL

The Ministry of Health announced that the Scientific Commissions for Inspection and Evaluation will monitor the functioning and inspection processes of all hospitals.

Ministry of Health has launched ‘inspection mobilisation’, ‘Gender Change Inspection Commission’ established Kaos GL - News Portal for LGBTI+

The Ministry of Health announced that it has started an ‘’inspection mobilisation‘’ for public hospitals through ministry inspectors.

Ministry of Health Audit and Evaluation Scientific Commissions were established with the instruction of Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu. These commissions, including the ‘Gender Change Inspection and Evaluation Scientific Commission’, will monitor the functioning and inspection processes of all hospitals.

Media organisations close to the government had targeted hospitals in Türkiye that provide services related to gender reassignment.

Within the scope of the commissions, which are claimed to make control mechanisms in the health sector more effective with their recommendations, 38 inspectors were assigned in 7 pilot provinces.

The commissions are expected to carry out their activities within the scope of the Presidential Circular on ‘Regular and Effective Fulfilment of Inspection Activities’ dated 26 November 2024 and conduct comprehensive inspections of all facilities.

What does the Presidential Circular say?

Published on 26 November 2024 in the Resmi Gazete, the Presidential Circular in question stipulates that the units tasked with auditing should ‘implement and supervise the legislation’, ‘identify procedures, methods and practices incompatible with the requirements of public service’, and ‘check whether public resources are used on the basis of savings and efficiency’.

According to the statements in the circular, it is also stated that the units tasked with auditing can initiate inspections, examinations or investigations upon citizens' complaints:

‘Necessary examinations, audits or investigations regarding the applications and notifications received by public institutions and organisations will be initiated immediately, and the necessary administrative and penal actions will be taken against those responsible without delay.’

In recent months, the distribution of drugs used in hormone therapy was restricted

The Turkish Pharmacists' Association (TEB) had published an announcement on 20 November regarding the drugs whose supply was restricted by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of the Ministry of Health.

According to TEB's announcement, testosterone injections and gels commonly used by trans men in hormone replacement therapy and estrogen-enhancing contraceptives commonly used by trans women would be affected by the regulation.

In the statement of TEB, arrangements were made forthe drugs listed to be monitored through the Drug Tracking System (ITS) with limited distribution. The TEB statement read as follows:

"The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency has decided to make arrangements for testosterone-containing drugs, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and drugs containing 2 mg or more estrogen alone to be monitored with restricted distribution through the Drug Tracking System (ITS) in order to prevent abuse and protect public health,

In this context

1. Prescriptions for the drugs named in the attached list can only be covered by electronic prescription through the Prescription System,

2. It has been reportedthat when a prescription is entered, a system has been organised to ensure that a drug supply quota is created for pharmacies in ITS and supplied from the relevant pharmaceutical warehouses ."


Tags: human rights, health
2024