Turkey's Health Ministry limits hormone therapy for under-21s citing family protection
The Turkish Health Ministry has barred testosterone, GnRH analogues and high-dose estrogen for gender transition in people under 21, saying it safeguards the family structure.
In a policy enacted through a July directive, Turkey's Health Ministry forbids the prescription of testosterone, GnRH analogues and estrogen doses of at least 2 mg for gender-transition purposes to anyone under 21, framing the measure as a protection of patient safety and the Turkish family structure. Since February, electronic prescriptions coded with the F64 diagnosis for transsexualism have been unable to be completed, effectively extending the restriction.
LGBTI+ advocacy group Kaos GL formally requested details from the ministry; a reply was issued only after the Ombudsman Institution intervened, yet it left several questions unanswered. The ministry also created a Scientific Committee for Gender Transition Oversight and Evaluation to review medical records. Ecmel Deniz of the My Hormone Right Collective denounced the approach, arguing that health care access should be based on individual medical need, not family policy, and warned that administrative restrictions may precede any legislative change.
Why it matters
The rule limits access to gender-affirming care for young people, reflecting a politicised view of health policy in Turkey.
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