The development of healthcare system in Turkey: Healthcare Transition Program (2003-2011)

Health is a concept that doesn't have any substitution, so all of the countries care about their individuals' and their community health. In order to overcome the malfunctions in healthcare systems, governments determine their own healthcare policies. Healthcare reform was required in Turkey due to the troubles in healthcare system as of 1980s. So as to remove all the obstructions in the system, The Healthcare Transition Program was put into practice.The Healthcare Transition Program started out with "health for everyone" motto. The Program's main objectives are, to organize the healthcare services efficiently, productively and fairly and to finance and serve them. In order to reach the program's main objectives, "General Healthcare Insurance" system was started to implement which takes all individuals into the scope of health insurance. Protective healthcare services were put into practice free of charge to increase the accessibility of healthcare services. The Ministry of Health was reconstructed and within this context, the Ministry has been on duty as a supervisor of services not a service provider. In the program's scope, the financing of the healthcare services and servicing has been separated. With these changes, the Turkish Healthcare System has gone through a structural transition process via the Healthcare Transition Program. Key Words: Health, Healthcare Transition Program, General Health Insurance, Family Practice