Türkiye's Ministry of Health has fined and suspended nearly 100 obstetricians and gynecologists as part of a nationwide effort to reduce the country's high rate of cesarean section deliveries.

The disciplinary measures are part of a broader healthcare policy backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has repeatedly promoted natural childbirth and called for a reduction in surgical births, The Caspian Post reports via BirGün newspaper.

According to 2023 data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Türkiye recorded the highest cesarean section rate among its 38 member countries, with approximately 615 C-sections performed for every 1,000 live births.

As part of the government's "Decade of the Family" initiative launched in 2025 to address declining birth rates, Türkiye introduced a ban on cesarean deliveries in private hospitals unless there are clear medical indications.

The Antalya Medical Chamber said on its website that doctors have received official warnings, faced disciplinary investigations, been temporarily suspended from practice, and required to undergo additional prenatal care training due to the country's high number of cesarean deliveries.