Country of origin information report Turkey March 2007

Return to contents

Go to list of sources
25.20 The WHO Mental Health Atlas 2005 recorded that “The following therapeutic drugs are generally available at the primary health care level:
carbamazepine,

ethosuximide,

phenobarbital,

phenytoin

sodium valproate,

amitriptyline,

chlorpromazine,

diazepam,

fluphenazine,

haloperidol,

lithium,

biperiden,

carbidopa,

and levodopa.” [37a] (Section on Therapeutic Drugs)

25.21 The WHO Mental Health Atlas 2005 continued:
“The mental health department was established within the Ministry of Health in 1983 with the primary tasks of improving mental health services, development and dissemination of preventive mental health services, integration of mental health with primary care, community education and protection of the community from harmful behaviours. The means of achieving these aims were through determination of standards, training programmes, data collection, research, creation of counselling and guiding units, creation of psychiatric clinics in state hospitals, assigning proper tasks to personnel, developing rehabilitation facilities, carrying out public education through the help of media, educating the public on harmful behaviour, and taking care of those who succumb to those behaviours.” [37a] (Section on Other Information)
25.22 As noted in a report by the Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) entitled ‘Behind Closed Doors: Human Rights Abuses in the Psychiatric Facilities, Orphanages and Rehabilitation Centers of Turkey’ (released on 28 September 2005):

“There is no enforceable law or due process in Turkey that protects against the

arbitrary detention or forced treatment of institutionalized people with mental disabilities. There are virtually no community supports or services, and thus, no alternatives to institutions for people in need of support. As a result, thousands of people are detained illegally, many for a lifetime, with no hope of ever living in the community. Once inside the walls of an institution, people are at serious risk of abuse from dangerous treatment practices. In order to receive any form of assistance, people must often consent to whatever treatment an institution may have to offer. For people detained in the institution, there is no right to refuse treatment. The prison-like incarceration of Turkey’s most vulnerable citizens is dangerous and life-threatening.” [90]
25.23 The EC 2006 report acknowledged that, “As regards mental health, there are significant discrepancies in the quality of services, which is particularly poor in some rural areas. The largest psychiatric hospital in Turkey abolished the use of unmodified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, Turkey has yet to ban this practice throughout the country and establish written guidelines regarding the administration of modified ECT as part of an individualised treatment plan.” [71a] (p19)
25.24 The EC 2006 report further noted that:
“Ongoing work, in co-operation with the World Bank, to establish a strategy in this area needs to be intensified, with a view in particular to establish a mental health law. Rehabilitation centres generally lack adequate infrastructure, resources and qualified personnel. Mentally disabled living with family members receive little assistance from the state.” [71a] (p19)
See also Section 21.01 Disability
Home health care
25.25 The International Observatory on End of Life Care website dated 2006 stated that:
“Home health care is a low-cost alternative to traditional inpatient care and an appealing alternative for developing countries such as Turkey, where financial resources for health care are particularly scarce. Availability is generally limited to the bigger cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. These benefits include keeping families together, keeping the elderly independent, preventing institutionalisation, promoting healing, allowing a maximum amount of freedom for the individual, involving the individual and family in the care that is delivered, reducing stress, improving the quality of life, and extending life.” [33]

General Overview of the Public Health Sector in Turkey in 2006

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/envi/pdf/expert_panels/public_health_panel/public_health_in_turkey_by_reig_and_valverde.pdf