On 14 March 2025, health workers including TTB members gathered on Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in Cankaya, Ankara to mark March 14 Medical Day and to protest issues in the healthcare sector, such as budget shortages and low-quality healthcare services. Representatives of CHP (including an MP) attended the protest.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 14, 2025, medical professionals held a peaceful protest in Ankara, Turkey, demonstrating against insufficient medical budgets and deteriorating service quality. Members of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) organized the rally at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine to mark Medical Day, with opposition parliament members also in attendance. Classified as a peaceful demonstration, immediate supply-chain risk levels are low.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Indirect concerns for medical supplies and pharmaceutical supply chains - potential reduction in medical device and pharmaceutical procurement within Turkey if medical budget shortfalls persist
• Impact on Turkish pharmaceutical industry investment sentiment - structural healthcare system issues raised could lead to long-term healthcare sector growth slowdown concerns
• Increased uncertainty in domestic demand for Ankara-based medical-related manufacturers

3) Watch points

• Monitor Turkish government medical budget policy announcements and official responses to medical professionals' demands
• Track potential expansion of follow-up medical professional protests and scale changes, particularly possible spread to major cities like Istanbul