Abstract:

The aim of this study is to compare basic health status indicators and health expenditures for Turkey and members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and to examine the situation of Turkey in OECD countries and to make recommendations. In our study, the health indicators and relevant economic data of 35 member countries, including Turkey, of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) were used. The data are obtained from the statistics of the TUIK, the OECD and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015 and 2013. In our study, Turkey is statistically significantly lower according to the OECD countries average in the life expectancy in women and men, healthy life expectancy; and statistically significantly higher in neonatal mortality rate, under-five mortality rate and maternal mortality rate.In addition, Turkey has the lowest health spending proportion in budget for OECD countries. Turkey is significantly lower number of doctors, number of nurses and midwives, number of hospitals and number of hospitals according to OECD countries average. To improve Turkey's health indicators, it should allocate more budget for health and establish a strong health system infrastructure and increase the number of health workers such as qualified doctors, nurses and midwives.

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