What are the differences between Norwegian and Turkish Health Systems?

Norway has a system that provides comprehensive and extensive healthcare services to its citizens. On the other hand, Türkiye aims to expand health services. with various reforms It constantly updates itself.

By comparing the health systems of Norway and Turkey, we discussed some issues from the health policies of the two countries to their approach to public health. In addition, of course, between the two countries technological differences There is also.

The health services of Türkiye and Norway are systemically separated from each other.

Norwegian healthcare system, by far one of the best in the world It is accepted as. People in Norway, which has one of the most developed and comprehensive social security systems; benefit from economic assistance and other services during old age, illness and unemployment.

In other words, within the scope of national insurance, everyone living in Norway, regardless of the person’s nationality, is covered compulsorily. From pregnancy to birth, from death to elderly care, From assistance to unmarried mothers to incapacity for work. Many situations are included in the insurance service.

Most of the hospitals in Norway with the inclusive/holistic/monolithic service type are publicly owned and their management varies by province. Also in the country few private hospitals is available. Health services affiliated with the National Insurance Administration under the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs are taxes and direct personal payments It is financed by. Approximately 25% of the wages received by workers, employers and retirees is transferred to the health system.

In Turkey, the health system; including tax, social and private health insurance models It has a mixed healthcare system. Health services are provided not only by public institutions but also by semi-public, foundations, private and for-profit organizations.

Health system finance in Turkey taxes, social security premiums, It is covered by private insurance premiums and out-of-pocket payments.

Both Türkiye and Norway are members of the Economic Development and Cooperation Organization. According to the organization, Türkiye is inferior in terms of health indicators compared to other countries in the organization. in negative situation among the countries that are.

What fees are paid to benefit from the health system?

Norway is included in the National Health Insurance plan, which means that every person residing in the country benefits from health services, but treatments It’s not completely free. There is an annual limit on how much each person must pay for health care.

a small amount Contributions are paid and there is an annual spending quota. The reason why Norway does this is that it actually resorts to health institutions for unnecessary situations. not to disrupt the system.

In Norway, inpatient treatment services are covered by social security, but a certain amount is paid for outpatient treatment services. personal payment is being done.

As we all know, there are different types of insurance in Turkey. Those who do not work while the worker’s insurance premiums are paid by the employer optional insurance can make payment. While in the Norwegian system it is sufficient to just be present in the country and have an ID number, in Turkey the scope of service is also included. applications and conditions There is a requirement to enter with .

In order for people who do not have any health insurance and are in need to benefit from health services, “green card” It needs to be removed. Of course, there are some conditions for this. In short, various procedures are used to benefit from health services.

Participation in private health insurance in both countries is almost equal.

In Norway, insurance companies provide faster access to outpatient services. private health insurance doing. This insurance covers only 5% of elective services and does not cover acute care.

Approximately 90% of policies are paid by the employer. Total private health insurance in the country is average 9% of the population is getting it done.

Turkey is a country where private health insurance is frequently preferred as well as general health insurance. We have this payments by individuals While this is done, only certain services are covered.

The rate in Turkey is no different from Norway. Number of people who have private health insurance in our country in 2023 Around 9 million. That is, approximately 10% of the total population prefers this type of insurance.

How does healthcare work?

In both countries family doctors is available. While there are an average of 2 thousand people per doctor in Norway, this number is Around 3 thousand per doctor.

In Norway, family medicine is affiliated with municipalities. Because there is a policy to solve health care in family medicine. The occupancy rate of hospitals is close to 100 percent. While some treatments are provided by family physicians, if there is a serious illness, they are referred to hospitals and people do not make an appointment for this. Appointment date and clinic are sent to people. Giving an appointment date is in many cases It may take 3-4 months.

Additionally, hospitals in Norway are as big as a neighborhood. There are tunnel passages between buildings to prevent citizens from being affected by especially cold weather.

In Turkey, family physicians are generally based on minor illnesses and doctors prescribing medications. People make their own appointments at hospitals. The only thing that is the same in both countries is the given Appointments are too late.

Turkey stands out from Norway in one aspect in the field of healthcare.

The branch in which the most treatment is received by those who come to Turkey from Norway for treatment is external. Because dental treatment is quite expensive in Norway. After that, the branches that receive the most applications are: internal medicine and child health and diseases. One of the cities they prefer for treatment is Antalya is coming. Other frequently preferred provinces are; Muğla, Istanbul and Izmir.

There are technological features that distinguish Norwegian hospitals from many hospitals in other countries. However, according to Turkey, there are also some systems that it was later included in.

The video above, which appeared on social media for a while, attracted a lot of attention. This video, which draws attention to the technology in the Norwegian hospital, is the country’s use robots in every field also attracts attention. Healthcare workers take the uniforms they will wear clean and ironed from a special device, and when they are finished, they throw their uniforms into the same machine as a dirty basket.

The only thing in common with Türkiye is the tunnel system used for the capsules. Machines traveling around the hospital carry out deliveries, and the devices are programmed with the ability to even take elevators.

Sharing of medical records between hospitals is more common in Turkey. Norway is switching to this after the pandemic and one of the country’s most famous hospitals Oslo University Hospital, makes a statement that this will be further developed in June 2023. In other words, before this system, the emergency doctor of a hospital in Norway would check with the incoming patient from other hospitals. He could not easily access his medical records.

Speaking of Oslo University Hospital, there is another area where the institution uses technology. And that’s drones. Taking blood samples In order to speed up the process of analysis, the hospital how to use drone prefers. However, this practice is not yet widespread.

Stanford Medicine uses artificial intelligence frequently in the hospital. Support is received from artificial intelligence in different departments, from eye to dermatology, and operations are accelerated thanks to programs that interpret for diagnosis.

Also at Stanford Medicine, systems that utilize robots are being put into use. The device in the image collects medications in the pharmacy unit and packages them in the back. A separate system distributes these drugs within the hospital.

Although Norway is in a better position than many countries in terms of systemic differences, we can see that Turkey is also getting better in this regard. Our doctor migrations Without it, who knows, maybe everything would have been different…