Constitutional Court suspends law instating full-day shifts for doctors

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The law gave doctors holding academic positions up to April 18 to close their private clinic if they had one.

The Constitutional Court has issued a stay of execution on a disputed health law instating full-day shifts for doctors, which once enforced would prevent specialists from working in public and private hospitals at the same time.

The measure, known as the Full-Day Law, has been widely criticized as many argued that it would have a negative effect on public hospitals because thousands of doctors, including those holding academic positions, would have to choose between their private clinic and public institution.

The law, which entered in force on Jan. 18, gave doctors holding academic positions three months to close their private clinic if they had one, otherwise their contract with public and university hospitals would be canceled.

Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu had said that doctors with academic positions would be able to see patients after their working hours – 4 or 5 p.m. – at public universities, but the patients’ fee for each examination would be shared by the doctors and the institution.

Ruling on an application filed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Constitutional Court has now suspended the implementation of the two articles giving doctors a deadline to close their private clinics.

The court will further discuss if the law is in line with the Constitution, Anadolu Agency said.