Turkey has published an official decree ending free healthcare services for Syrians under temporary protection, with the change taking effect on 1 January 2026, according to the country’s Official Gazette on Saturday.
Under the new regulation, Syrians will be required to pay monthly contributions to the Social Security Institution (SGK), aligning them with Turkish citizens and other residents who access public hospitals and health centers.
All contributions collected from Syrians will be transferred directly to the Social Assistance and Solidarity Fund, while the Ministry of Health will cover treatment costs for those unable to pay, reassessed every three months within limits set by SGK.
The decree allows financially vulnerable families to apply for exemption from monthly premiums.
Eligibility will be determined jointly by the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Presidency of Migration Management. However, exempted individuals will still not receive coverage for services that fall outside the national insurance system, such as specialized procedures or non-listed medications.
The new rules also restate a strict ban on Syrians seeking treatment directly in private hospitals or clinics, except in extreme emergencies. This practice had already been informally enforced and is now codified in law.
Some essential services will remain completely free for all Syrians regardless of insurance status, including infectious disease screenings, routine vaccinations, reproductive health services, mandatory childhood immunizations and national programs aimed at reducing infant and child mortality.
Turkey currently hosts 2,375,909 Syrians under temporary protection, including more than 1.148 million minors. Istanbul has the largest Syrian population with 471,000 residents, followed by Gaziantep with 333,000, and then Hatay, Şanlıurfa and Adana.
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