The Turkish state's responses to existential COVID-19 crisis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Political Science

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented public health challenges.
• The Turkish state implemented various health policy instrument mixes to mitigate effects.
• Understanding the effectiveness of these policy responses is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the introduction, implementation, and impact of Turkish health policy responses to COVID-19.
• To evaluate the role of the presidential system in policy formulation and execution.
• To identify risks and success factors in health policy design and implementation under uncertainty.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of health policy instrument mixes.
• Examination of the Turkish presidential system's influence on policy.
• Case study approach focusing on COVID-19 responses.

Main Results:

• The presidential system facilitated rapid policy introduction but risked design and implementation failures.
• Policy failures occurred when problems were misdiagnosed or solutions were inadequate.
• Effective responses required expert-led, inclusive, and decisive action during uncertainty.

Conclusions:

• While the presidential system enables swift action, it necessitates careful policy diagnosis and inclusive implementation.
• Addressing complex public health crises like COVID-19 requires adapting administrative traditions.
• Scientific expertise and inclusive approaches are vital for effective health policy in uncertain times.