HEALTH INEQUITIES IN TURKEY: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE

Authors : İrem Şenses, İnci Oktay

Pages : 79-92

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Publication Date : 2025-07-31

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Health is an individual condition of well-being and a core element of social wellness and social justice. This study adopts a qualitative research approach based on historical and documentary analysis. To examine the historical development of health inequalities in Turkey, 27 academic articles and 10 policy reports were reviewed. These sources chronologically analyzed Turkey’s health policies and evaluated them within the context of health inequalities. The study aims to explore how health inequalities in Turkey have evolved, to identify the social, economic, and political dynamics that have contributed to their persistence, and to propose comprehensive, justice-oriented strategies for addressing current disparities. The findings indicate that despite several public health reforms, including the socialization policies of the 1960s and the Health Transformation Program launched in 2003, deep-rooted structural inequalities related to income, education, gender, geography, and ethnicity continue to shape unequal health outcomes. The study concludes that tackling health inequalities requires integrated, multisectoral approaches that address the broader social determinants of health and promote inclusive governance, civil participation, and equitable service delivery.
Keywords : sağlıkta eşitsizlik, sağlıkta eşitlik, sağlığın sosyal belirleyicileri, sosyal sağlık

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