An examination of diabetes policy in Turkey: A qualitative documentary analysis

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Diabetes Mellitus is the 9th leading cause of death globally, accounting for about 2 million annual deaths as of 2019. Turkey is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes. Turkey's position in diabetes outcomes worldwide needs explanation as it has a relatively strong healthcare system and allocates a significant budget to the management of diabetes and its complications. In this context, this thesis explores the policy factors explaining Turkey's failure. Using Walt and Gilson's policy triangle framework, this thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of diabetes policy in Turkey by examining Turkey Diabetes Programme 2015-2020 and the transcriptions of Diabetes Parliament meetings held between 2015-2018. The thesis reveals a wide gap between policy and implementation, the lack of cooperation among diabetes actors and inadequate recognition of social determinants of health (SDoH) in Turkey's national diabetes programme. Turkey's adoption of a vertical-like, disease-centred, treatment-focused and group-based approach in the management of diabetes may have contributed to the failure of its diabetes policy.