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Family Doctors in Türkiye: Registration, Changing Practices and Referrals
Starting with the appropriate service can save time and unnecessary expense. For many non-emergency problems, a family doctor — Aile Hekimi — is a useful first point of contact for an examination, prescriptions where appropriate, basic reports and advice on where to seek further care.
Editorial clarification — 8 October 2026: This edition of the original 2025 guide distinguishes the doctor from the health centre, identifies the competent registration authorities and corrects the suggestion that moving home automatically changes your doctor. Registration, particular reports and prescriptions depend on the applicable rules and your circumstances.
1. What is a family doctor?
The family doctor is a physician providing primary care. The public family health centre where they work is called an Aile Sağlığı Merkezi (ASM).
Typical work includes:
- General health assessment and follow-up.
- Prescribing medicines for conditions within the doctor's remit.
- Referral or advice on the appropriate service, where required.
- Vaccination and preventive services under the relevant programmes.
A family doctor can help assess recurring colds, provide initial blood-pressure or diabetes follow-up, and consider suitable prescriptions, repeat prescriptions and basic reports. These are subject to clinical judgement and any specific eligibility or report requirements.
2. Can foreign nationals register?
Foreign nationals may be able to register through the applicable local process. A recognised foreign identity number and up-to-date registered address are important; the health authority can confirm what is needed for your immigration or protection status.
Bring your residence or identity document and address information. Insurance entitlement and access to particular services should be checked separately: registration alone does not establish that every service is covered or free.
Some practices are full. The health authority may direct you to a suitable doctor with capacity near your address.
3. How to register or check your registration
A. Ask a nearby ASM
Take your identity or residence document and your address details or available proof of address. Ask whether you already have an assigned doctor and how to register if you do not.
B. Contact the district health authority
The İlçe Sağlık Müdürlüğü — district health directorate — or relevant community health centre can explain the appropriate registration route. Use the competent health authority rather than assuming the municipality handles registration.
C. Check e-Nabız or e-Devlet
If these services are available through your account, you may be able to see your assigned doctor and centre, and use the family-doctor change service. Ask the centre or directorate for help if your details are missing or the online service is unavailable.
4. Finding a nearby ASM
Search Google Maps for Aile Sağlığı Merkezi followed by your neighbourhood name. A nearby pharmacy may also know the local centre. Confirm the address and registration arrangements with the centre or the district health directorate.
5. Do you need a referral to hospital?
Many public hospital outpatient appointments can be booked directly through MHRS; a family-doctor referral is not a universal requirement for every hospital visit.
A family doctor can nevertheless help organise longer-term follow-up, assess whether particular tests or reports are appropriate, and direct you to a suitable specialty. Ask about the route for the service you actually need.
6. Changing your doctor or centre
You may want to change because you have moved, the centre is too far away, it is busy or the arrangement does not suit you.
Do not assume that updating your official address immediately changes your family doctor. Check your current assignment. If a change is needed, ask your chosen doctor or district health directorate, or use the relevant e-Nabız/e-Devlet service where available. Capacity, change intervals and processing arrangements apply.
7. Services you can reasonably expect
Common services include a general examination, blood-pressure or glucose assessment where appropriate, initial advice and treatment for some conditions, renewal of eligible medicines, direction to a specialist and vaccinations under the relevant programmes, particularly for children.
The family health centre is not the appropriate route for a serious emergency, surgery or every advanced investigation. Complex cardiology, neurology and other specialist problems may need hospital assessment. The doctor decides which tests, medicines, reports or referrals are clinically appropriate and permitted.
8. Preparing for your visit
Have a short account of your symptoms and when they started. Bring a list of medicines and any medicine allergies.
If you need blood tests or another investigation, ask whether it can appropriately be arranged through the public system and what charges or coverage conditions apply.
For most non-emergency problems, an appropriately registered family doctor can provide continuity and help you find the right route through the health system. To obtain local registration instructions, tell the district health authority your city, identity or residence status and whether your address is registered.
Additional official verification
İstanbul Provincial Health Directorate: family medicine Ministry of Health: registering with and changing a family doctor Ministry of Health: family medicine servicesSource article's stated review date: 2025 (original guide). English edition checked: 8 October 2026.
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