This petition seeks to address the issue of inadequate time allocation during doctor-patient interactions and call on health authorities in Turkey to implement measures that ensure physicians can spend sufficient time with each patient. Doing so can improve healthcare quality for all guaranteeing everyone receives the attention they deserve during medical consultations. 

We have personally experienced the rushed atmosphere of a doctor's office in Türkiye. In an interview we conducted, a candidate explained “It was so rude. I waited 4 hours just to be dismissed after barely 3 minutes of seeing the doctor. “I was handed a prescription and that was that.” The patient expressed how neglected they felt when the doctor barely heard their symptoms and did not seem to care how severe their illness was. This seems to be a trend. 

In Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital, the average physician sees "100-150 patients a day." These accounts for roughly 3 minutes per patient (Medimagazin). Güray Kılıç, a Board Member of the Istanbul Medical Chamber (İTO), said that “the examination time allocated to patients requires at least 20 minutes” (“Doctors Protest”) for thorough care. The limited time doctors spend with patients is stressful and can be detrimental to the quality of healthcare provided. 

A study conducted in one hundred twenty-four physician offices in the United States found a direct correlation between a “physician's risk of malpractice claims” and their average patient visit length (Dugdale, DC et al 1999). Physicians who had “fewer than two lifetime malpractice claims” spent 18% longer time with patients on average than those who had “two or more lifetime malpractice claims” (Dugdale, DC et al 1999). Furthermore, the physicians who spent less time in the study spent about 15 minutes per consultation while the average examination time in Turkey is around 3-4 minutes. When physicians are pressured to rush through appointments, they may inadvertently overlook critical details, misinterpret symptoms, or make hasty decisions, leading to adverse outcomes for patients.

In Turkey, rapid social and economic changes over the past two decades have led to a surge in chronic diseases. Despite reforms like the Health Transformation Program, challenges persist, notably in doctor-patient consultations. Recent studies highlight varying consultation lengths influenced by patient factors and physician workload. As emphasized by Güray Kılıç, Istanbul Medical Chamber Board Member, adequate time is crucial, reflecting the need for systemic improvements in healthcare delivery (Bener).

In summary, this petition addresses inadequate time for doctor-patient interactions in Turkey's healthcare system. By advocating for measures that enable doctors to spend more time with each patient, we seek to foster an environment conducive to thorough examinations and accurate diagnoses. This aligns with global standards emphasizing the correlation between consultation duration, healthcare quality, and the specific disparity in Turkey's medical landscape. By signing this petition, together we can positively impact our doctors' lives and create better healthcare outcomes in Istanbul.