ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR SYRIANS UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTION IN TURKIYE

This report presents the findings of Dünya Doktorları Derneği (DDD)’s assessment of healthcare access for Syrians under Temporary Protection in Türkiye.

Following the healthcare regulatory changes that entered into force on 1 January 2026, DDD conducted a two-phase assessment to monitor changes in healthcare access for Syrians under Temporary Protection (SuTP). The first phase, conducted between January and February 2026, assessed 88 individuals in Izmir and Hatay. Building on these initial findings, a second and more comprehensive assessment was carried out in June 2026, reaching 487 participants across Istanbul, Izmir, and Hatay.

The June assessment findings indicate that the new regulatory framework has strengthened the link between healthcare access and participation in the formal social security system. Under the new system, individuals who are not formally employed and contributing to social security are increasingly required to cover healthcare costs out of pocket, creating new barriers to accessing essential health services. While this may encourage some Syrians under Temporary Protection to seek formal employment and social insurance coverage, their ability to do so remains constrained by structural labour market realities. Most Syrians are employed in agriculture, services, textiles, and other sectors where informal employment remains widespread, work permit uptake has historically been limited, and employers often have few incentives to register workers and contribute to social security on their behalf.

At the end of June 2026, the Ministry of Interior announced a work permit exemption for Syrians under Temporary Protection in agriculture, industry, and services, the sectors where most Syrians work. This policy change was introduced after the assessment was completed and is therefore not reflected in the findings, though it may be relevant for interpreting future trends. While the exemption may facilitate labour market participation by reducing administrative barriers to formal employment, it has not yet resulted in changes to the healthcare regulations introduced in January, nor does it automatically lead to the social security registration Syrians need to access discounted healthcare fees.

As a result, there is a risk that many Syrians under Temporary Protection, despite remaining economically active, will continue to remain stuck in informal work arrangements that do not provide access to the essential social benefits needed for discounted or free healthcare services. Unless there is a change to healthcare access regulations, a growing gap may emerge between the minority of Syrians able to access formal employment and maintain healthcare coverage, and the majority who remain in informal work and face rising out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring as Türkiye’s regulatory environment for Syrians under Temporary Protection continues to evolve. DDD recommends closer coordination between healthcare and labour market policy to ensure that regulatory changes affecting one system do not create unintended barriers in the other. Without such alignment, the risk remains that vulnerable individuals, including those with chronic illnesses or disabilities, will continue to fall through the gaps between formal employment requirements and essential healthcare access.

DDD will continue to monitor these developments closely and assess their impact on the health, wellbeing, and long-term stability of Syrians under Temporary Protection living across Türkiye, particularly those with chronic health conditions or disabilities who face the greatest risk.