FranceIn Turkey, over 100 doctors have been fined or suspended by the Ministry of Health for performing unnecessary cesarean sections, part of a new national health policy aimed at reducing the country’s high rate of such procedures. Turkey has the highest cesarean section rate among OECD countries, with around 615 per 1000 live births in 2023. The government launched the 'Decade of Family' campaign to counter declining birth rates, which includes stricter controls over childbirth methods. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a practicing Muslim who promotes natural childbirth, wants to curb the high number of elective cesareans. In April 2025, private hospitals were banned from performing such procedures without medical justification. Some doctors, like those in Antalya and Sakarya, faced disciplinary actions, suspensions, and mandatory training. Medical professionals argue that high cesarean rates reflect systemic issues within the Turkish healthcare system and that cesareans offer time savings and legal protection.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the government's crackdown on cesarean sections as a necessary measure to address structural issues in the healthcare system, aligning with conservative values emphasizing traditional family roles and natural childbirth. It highlights the government's initiative under President Re
