The healthcare sector in Turkey's development plans

Background and Aim: Although development is often perceived as ensuring economic growth, it is essentially a process that aims not only to enhance the economy but also to improve social opportunities, thereby elevating the quality of life for individuals and communities. When it comes to humans, considering health within this process is inevitable. The study titled "The Healthcare Sector in Turkey's Development Plans" aims to assess how the goals and policies outlined in Turkish Development Plans impact the health sector and evaluate the success of this impact in the process of delivering health services. Material and Methods: In the study, the development plans that have been implemented since 1963, the 11th Development Plan that has been recently implemented and the 12th Development Plan that determines the targets for 2024-2028, health statistical yearbooks and parliamentary speeches of the ministers of health, documents regarding the legislation and practices prepared during the periods are examined within the framework of a comparative analysis. has been examined. Results: As a result of the investigation; Studies have been carried out since the first plan published for the development of preventive health services, the targets have not been achieved in some periods, when we look at the recent period, it is seen that preventive health services are intended to be carried out together with the policies of providing healthy life skills, the burden of the Ministry of Health in curative health services has not decreased, hospitals have not yet had administrative and financial autonomy. It has been understood that significant improvements have been made in health indicators since 1963, but these have still not reached the level of developed countries. Conclusion: It is of great importance to consider health policies in integrity with other sectors in development plans, to closely monitor implementation and to flexibly update policies according to new needs. Otherwise, the gap between the policies in the plans and the reality on the ground will widen, and public confidence in health services will decrease. This situation may cause serious problems for both the health of individuals and the long-term development goals of the country.