Ankara Medical Chamber reacts to REDES and MEDULA applications
The Ankara Medical Chamber, opposing the REDES and MEDULA systems on the grounds that they undermine physicians' professional independence and increase their workload, has demanded that the applications be halted.
The Ankara Medical Chamber (ATO) has announced that the Risk-Based Audit System (REDES) and the billing processes conducted through MEDULA restrict the professional autonomy of physicians. The chamber's management stated that physicians are being burdened with administrative responsibilities outside of their primary duties, emphasizing that this situation disrupts the delivery of healthcare services.
Criticisms regarding the REDES application
ATO Secretary General Dr. Zafer Çelik stated that the REDES program has turned into an audit mechanism that offends physicians. Arguing that AI-supported reports portray physicians as potential fraudsters, Çelik noted that this situation damages human dignity.
New obligations in the MEDULA system
The MEDULA approval processes, which were expanded to include Training and Research Hospitals as of September 1, 2026, mandate that physicians administratively audit medical procedures. Physicians emphasize that these technical and financial processes fall outside their job descriptions.
Risk to healthcare access
Physicians state that the time allocated to invoice control and approval processes is taken away from the time spent on patient examination and treatment. Dr. Alpay Azap expressed that this additional workload creates a significant loss of time and restricts the public's access to healthcare services.
Concern over legal and administrative liability
A warning was issued that erroneous transactions made through the system could lead directly to legal and financial liability for physicians. The ATO argues that invoice approval processes should be carried out by technical personnel and hospital administrations.