Dear Colleagues,
Türkiye is taking a significant step in strengthening its primary healthcare system through a comprehensive update of its "Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment in Primary Care". This initiative, led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Turkish Association of Family Physicians (TAHUD), represents a major advancement in standardizing and modernizing primary care services.
The guideline, last revised in 2013, is being updated in three stages:
- Clinical Approaches in Family Medicine
- Practical Approaches in Family Medicine
- Special Situations in Family Medicine
A crucial milestone was reached in February 2025, when TAHUD and the MoH hosted a collaborative workshop in Ankara, gathering academics and frontline family medicine specialists. Key updates include:
- Integration with "National" and "International" Standards – Aligning with National Core Education Program & Medical Specialization Board Curriculum.
- Enhanced Usability – Streamlined algorithms for rapid decision-making in primary care.
- Disaster & Emergency Preparedness – New guidelines to improve "disaster response" and "emergency interventions" at the primary care level.
- Digital Transformation – Integration of the guidelines into family medicine digital information systems for seamless access and real-time updates.
With contributions from experts across Türkiye, this effort goes beyond a simple update—it establishes a new benchmark for primary care standardization. The revised guideline will soon be available on "digital platforms", ensuring wider accessibility for primary healthcare professionals.
Global Implications & WONCA Europe Collaboration
Türkiye’s approach aligns with international efforts to enhance the role of family medicine in resilient and sustainable healthcare systems. This initiative serves as an opportunity for knowledge exchange between Türkiye and other WONCA Europe member organizations, encouraging collaboration on best practices in primary care innovation.
We invite our international colleagues to join the discussion on advancing primary healthcare standardization, digital transformation, and disaster preparedness in family medicine. Let’s work together to shape the future of primary care!
For more details, feel free to connect with TAHUD or the Ministry of Health of Türkiye.