A newborn insurance scam that resulted in the deaths of 12 infants continues to shake Turkey, with the Turkish Health Ministry revoking the licenses of 10 private hospitals involved in the scheme, where newborns were exploited for profit. On Monday, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party called for the resignation of Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, holding the government accountable for the deaths.
The scam involved extending the hospitalisation of newborns in private hospitals to inflate insurance claims, with some infants being falsely reported in critical condition. Health workers allegedly profited from these falsifications, causing unnecessary suffering and even death. Mustafa Kemal Zengin, one of the leaders of the scheme, was pictured with top officials, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) head İbrahim Kalın, raising serious concerns about his political connections.
“This crime shows the extent of corruption in the healthcare system under the Justice and Development Party,” said DEM Party MP Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, pointing to the role of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). She accused the government of prioritising profit over lives, with 12 infants dying for financial gain. “Why were these babies’ lives sacrificed for someone else to make more money?” she asked during a press briefing outside the Health Ministry.
Transcripts of communications between the scam’s participants reveal chilling dialogues. “Mehtap, kill the child. How can a child have 50% oxygen saturation?” one suspect, Hasan Basri G., instructed a nurse. In another conversation, they discussed negotiating bribes with families. “I’ll talk to the parents today. I’ll ask for 150,000. Then we’ll celebrate once we get the money,” one participant said, highlighting the callousness of the operation.
Despite the outcry, Health Minister Memişoğlu refused to step down, insisting that those responsible would face justice. However, DEM Party’s Sezai Temelli warned that the issue goes beyond individual culpability. “This isn’t just about a few bad actors—this system commodifies human life. We are witnessing the devastating consequences of this corrupt structure,” he said.
The scandal has sparked a wave of public outrage, with many calling for widespread reforms in Turkey’s healthcare sector.
