HEALTH AND WELLBEING

THE CHALLENGE

In Türkiye, despite universal health coverage, striking disparities in access to healthcare remain—especially between urban centers and rural or underserved regions. In eastern and southeastern provinces, the doctor-to-population ratio is as low as 1 per 1,000 people, compared to 4 per 1,000 in cities like Ankara and İzmir. These shortages in medical professionals, combined with uneven distribution of healthcare infrastructure, mean that people in remote areas often face long travel times, limited appointment availability, and delayed diagnoses.

Significant health outcome gaps persist alongside these access challenges. While the Health Transformation Program has dramatically improved national indicators—reducing under-five mortality from 74 to 9 per 1,000 births between 1990 and 2021—regional disparities remain stark. In Southeastern Anatolia, under-five mortality stands at 16.3, more than double the 7.9 rate in Western Marmara. These differences reflect not only geographic inequities but also the compounded effects of poverty, limited preventive care, and fewer specialized medical services in disadvantaged areas.

Technology holds immense promise to bridge these divides, but its reach is still uneven. Türkiye’s digital health market, valued at US $1.1 billion in 2023 and projected to grow at 15.8% annually through 2030, is transforming care delivery through telemedicine, mobile diagnostics, and remote monitoring. Yet, these innovations are often concentrated in urban and private healthcare settings, leaving rural communities without equal access to emerging solutions. Without targeted investment and inclusive implementation, technological progress risks widening—rather than closing—the health equity gap.