On 3 December, the Committee of Ministers ended its supervision of execution of the Oyal group of cases. This group concerned, among others, violations of the right to life and prohibition of inhuman treatment on account of medical negligence committed mainly by medical staff of state-run hospitals between 1996 and 2008.
The authorities have implemented significant reforms following the delivery of the first ECHR judgment in 2010 to increase the quality and capacity of health care services, including an increase of the number of hospitals and medical staff, which have led to a decrease of the new-born and maternal mortality rates.
Other measures included in particular admission of patients to emergency care services of hospitals irrespective of their social security status and without pre-payment (Şentürk), the establishment of a central coordination system between hospitals to ensure rapid access to health care in emergency situations (Asiye Genç) and improvement of the standards of testing in blood donations to prevent contamination (Oyal).
The authorities furthermore took measures to accelerate judicial proceedings in medical negligence cases (Zafer Öztürk). A law for the submission of expert opinions in these cases was also adopted, including disciplinary sanctions on expert witnesses in cases of delays in the submission of reports.
