Health Minister Koca stated in a social media post that they have addressed the issues in the Central Physician Appointment System with the relevant departments of the Ministry and hospital managers in their meetings. He mentioned that they have reached significant results in solving the difficulties in finding appointments through their efforts and will gradually implement measures in the coming days to permanently solve the appointment problem.
Koca stated that they have created a solution that will satisfy both citizens and doctors in response to the appointment problem. He said, “Firstly, we will make our unused capacity available to other citizens due to appointments that are not cancelled and remain unused. In this context, citizens who do not cancel their appointments for which they are unable to attend will not be able to make an appointment in the same branch within 15 days for the first time. Similarly, if they do not show up for their appointment a second time, they will not be able to make an appointment in any branch within 15 days. To prevent inactive capacity due to last-minute cancellations, we are limiting the appointment cancellation period to 23.59 the previous day. We will be able to provide a new appointment for the cancelled appointments until 1 hour before the examination time. This way, we will ensure that more patients can make appointments and that capacity is used efficiently.”
The measures taken aim to prevent the waste of capacity due to last-minute cancellations and no-shows, and to make the appointment system more efficient. By limiting the time for cancelling appointments and implementing penalties for repeated no-shows, the Ministry of Health plans to ensure that appointments are not wasted and more patients can benefit from the available capacity.
These changes to the appointment system have been designed to address the challenges faced by both patients and healthcare providers in managing appointments effectively. Minister Koca emphasized the importance of creating a fair and efficient system that benefits everyone involved, and expressed confidence that the measures they are implementing will lead to a more streamlined and effective appointment process.
With a focus on improving the overall experience for patients and healthcare providers, the Ministry of Health is committed to making the appointment system more responsive to the needs of the public. By implementing these changes, they aim to reduce the wait time for appointments, increase the availability of slots for patients, and ensure that the capacity of the healthcare system is utilized more effectively.
By addressing the root causes of the appointment system issues and implementing targeted solutions, the Ministry of Health hopes to create a more user-friendly and efficient system that benefits both patients and healthcare providers. Minister Koca’s announcement of these measures indicates a proactive approach to addressing the challenges faced in managing appointments and highlights the Ministry’s commitment to improving the overall healthcare experience for the public.
