Digital era in healthcare: SMS approval via e-Pulse started for medical interventions
With the new regulation published by the Ministry of Health, patients are now enabled to give their consent digitally via e-Pulse or SMS before medical interventions. The practice, which also preserves the paper form option, will be implemented in healthcare facilities with appropriate infrastructure.
The 'Regulation on Receiving Informed Consent in Electronic Environment', prepared by the Ministry of Health, entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated October 27, 2026. Encompassing all first, second, and third-tier healthcare facilities, the regulation introduces the opportunity for patients to provide approval digitally through the e-Pulse system or via SMS verification code prior to medical interventions.
In the new system, the informed consent form prepared by healthcare personnel is made accessible via e-Pulse or through a link sent to the patient's registered mobile phone. After reviewing the form, the patient can complete their approval using a single-use SMS code. The Ministry stated that the option of giving approval via paper form and wet signature will also continue to remain in effect.
For the implementation of the practice, healthcare institutions are required to have the necessary electronic and identity verification infrastructure. While identity verification is mandatory for both the patient and the healthcare personnel performing the procedure during the process, verified mobile phone numbers will be considered valid for 12 months. Electronic consent forms will be protected using encryption, data integrity control, and timestamp methods before being transferred to the central health data system.
Consent procedures for minors and incapacitated patients will be carried out by their legal representatives. In cases where a legal representative is absent or cannot be verified, electronic consent cannot be obtained.