New health law passed by Parliament

With the “Law on Amendments to Certain Health-Related Laws and Decree Law No. 663,” adopted by the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, many new regulations regarding health came into force.

Under the new law, those who place counterfeit medical devices on the market, possess them, or offer them for sale will be subject to administrative fines ranging from 1 million lira to 10 million lira. Those who engage in sales, advertising, distribution, or marketing of medical devices without a Ministry permit, or those who provide technical service, will be subject to fines ranging from 500,000 lira to 5 million lira.

Regulations have also been introduced for private healthcare institutions. These institutions are prohibited from engaging in advertising activities exceeding the limits for promoting and providing information about healthcare services. Violations of these limits will result in administrative fines of up to 2 percent of the previous month's gross service revenue, but not less than 100,000 lira.

The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency will be able to request all kinds of financial information and documents, including those issued electronically, from all real and legal persons and public institutions within the scope of the inspection of products and services within its scope of responsibility.

The Ministry of Health and its affiliated agencies will determine the suitability of products and services used in health informatics and technology. They will be able to inspect these systems and establish relevant criteria.

The new regulation also amended the Public Procurement Law. The legal framework was established to allow public administrations to directly purchase medical products manufactured by the Turkish Health Institutes Presidency and its affiliated companies.

Many innovations have also been introduced in the field of opticians. Those who violate optician practices will be subject to administrative fines ranging from 100,000 lira to 1 million lira. Repeat violations within five years will double the penalty, and a third violation will result in a one-year ban from the profession.

Membership in the Chambers of Opticians and Opticians and the Turkish Opticians and Opticians Association has become mandatory. Those who are not registered with the Chamber will not be able to practice their profession. The duties, organ structure, and general assembly procedures of the Chambers and the Association have been regulated.

Additionally, the Ministry has determined the fee schedules for licenses, certificates, and licensing procedures. 75% of the licenses to be awarded through auction will be transferred to Uluslararası Sağlık Hizmetleri A.Ş., while the remaining 25% will be transferred to the general budget as revenue.

Pharmacies and pharmaceutical businesses have been granted a three-month period to correct inaccurate notifications made before March 15, 2025. Those who correct non-compliance within this period will not be subject to penalties.

Following the bill, the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved three international agreements signed between Turkey and the United Nations Children's Fund. Parliament adjourned for its final session before recess, reconvening on October 1st.