Family physicians' salary cuts at the Constitutional Court

According to İHA news, the amendments to the Family Medicine Contract and Payment Regulation, publicly known as the "Sigma formula regulation" and which came into force on November 1, 2024, were submitted to the Constitutional Court for review.

In the lawsuit filed by the Hekimsen Union, the regulation in question was requested to be annulled on the grounds that it was unlawful and unconstitutional.

"MANY ARTICLES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL"

Following Hekimsen's application, the Council of State, which heard the case, ruled that several articles in the regulation violated the Constitution and sent the case to the Constitutional Court. The articles referred to the court cover deductions and penalties imposed on family physicians and family health workers based on circumstances beyond their control.

Some of the key points raised in Hekimsen's legal objection include non-renewal of contracts for failure to meet screening and monitoring targets; termination of a physician's contract by a governor's decision following disciplinary action; salary deductions for patients who refuse to see a doctor; reductions in wages due to missed shifts; external factors such as patients choosing other healthcare institutions reducing incentive payments; and the impact of subjective criteria such as patient satisfaction and rational medication use on wages. Similarly, the grounds for appeal include cuts for family health workers based on criteria such as shift hours, patient satisfaction, and referral rates.