Capacity and Appointment Crisis in Public Mental Health Services
While public mental health needs are increasing, the number of psychiatrists and bed capacity remain insufficient, forcing patients to wait long periods for treatment.
While the demand for mental health services is increasing, the shortage of psychiatrists and healthcare workers in the public sector, insufficient bed capacity, and problems in finding appointments continue to deepen.
Capacity Shortage
While the need for mental health services is growing, public capacity remains insufficient, and citizens struggling to find psychiatry appointments face overcrowded outpatient clinics.
In addition to the number of psychiatrists, shortages of psychologists, psychiatric nurses, and social workers also negatively affect the quality of services.
Privatization Debates
While these problems persist, the inclusion of public health real estate within the scope of privatization raises concerns about the future of public health services. Although the Ministry of Health announced that active hospitals will not be sold, the presence of numerous properties on the lists where health services are currently provided or were provided in the past draws attention.
International Comparison
According to Ministry data, in Turkey, there are approximately 9 psychiatry specialists per 100,000 people, while this figure is 53 in Switzerland, 29 in Germany, and 26 in Greece. Turkey ranks third to last among OECD countries in terms of the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 people.
Appointment and Fee Barriers
While citizens wait for long periods for appointments due to congestion, some patients are unable to find suitable appointments despite applying multiple times through the Central Physician Appointment System (MHRS). For a large segment of the population, access is blocked as private psychiatry session fees rise between 5,000 and 15,000 liras for citizens who turn to the private sector after failing to secure public appointments.
Expert Opinions
Turkish Psychiatric Association Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülin Özdamar Ünal emphasized that public service capacity remains insufficient to meet the growing need. NEW Party MP Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala stated that the Elazığ Mental Health and Diseases Hospital was also among the privatized locations.