Do you know what kind of financial obligation arises when you visit the emergency departments of private hospitals in case of an emergency?

Patients who fall under the emergency category and cannot be charged are mentioned in the Ministry of Health’s directive on Emergency Health Services, specifically the Green Zone Application. If a patient has a complaint that falls under the emergency category as described in the directive, private hospitals cannot charge for the emergency services. If a fee is requested in such cases, it would be unlawful.

When a patient initially presents to the emergency department, they are considered an emergency patient regardless of which area they are entering and are admitted to the emergency services. Then, based on the physician’s evaluation, it is determined whether the patient falls under the green zone examination. This process occurs after the patient has completed their emergency department procedures.

Various regulations have been made regarding this issue, and patients admitted to the emergency department are classified based on the severity of their condition into red, yellow, and green zones after a physician’s evaluation.

The red zone, which is the most critical, involves serious injuries or illnesses that pose a life-threatening risk. Medical interventions for individuals with symptoms of a heart attack, severe breathing problems, coma, anaphylaxis, patients brought to the emergency department by ambulance, stab or puncture wounds, and multiple traumas are carried out in the red zone.

The yellow zone is for patients who have suffered a trauma or accident and are at risk of permanent damage, requiring medical care to prevent permanent harm. Medical interventions for patients with moderate burns or cuts without amputations, for example, are carried out in the yellow zone.

The green zone is for minor injuries, illnesses, and stable conditions. Medical interventions for individuals with wounds, stitches removal, sprains, and similar issues are carried out in the green zone.

According to the Ministry of Health’s Green Zone Application Directive, in general, trauma cases, medical interventions resulting in a diagnosis, cancellations of inpatient admissions at private hospitals, and cases where patients arrive with referrals will be provided free of charge in private hospital emergency departments. Patients who do not meet the emergency status as per the Green Zone Application may be subject to fees for the treatment and services provided.

Once the emergency condition has ended, further treatment procedures are priced according to the hospital’s contract with Social Security Institution (SGK). If the hospital does not have a contract with SGK, the pricing is based on the hospital’s own rates.

So, what should a patient do if they are charged for emergency services in a private hospital’s emergency department, even though their case should have been considered an emergency?

If a patient pays for a service they should have received for free under emergency status, they can keep the invoice or payment receipt and submit a request to the hospital management. If the issue is not resolved, the patient can consult with the Ministry of Health Communication Center (184). Additionally, the patient can file a complaint with the Consumer Arbitration Committee to seek reimbursement of the paid fee.

Av. Şefik ZİROĞLU & Stj. Av. Neslihan Öykü ŞAHİN