The Ministry of Health has taken action against 19 hospitals that collaborated with the gang responsible for killing babies.

In Istanbul, it was revealed that 22 individuals, 47 suspects in total, who were arrested, gained unfair profits by sending infant patients to the neonatal units of private hospitals they had agreements with, in cooperation with the 112 Emergency Service, and caused the deaths of some infants. The indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was completed on Thursday. Following this explosive development, the first statement from the Ministry of Health came days later. In the statement, it was noted that legal proceedings have been initiated against the hospitals cooperating with the gang.

The statement from the Ministry included the following remarks;

"The incident involving individuals identified as part of the 'neonatal gang' known to the public, who transferred emergency infant patients to the neonatal units of private hospitals they had previously agreed upon, leading to their deaths and obtaining unfair profits, was detected in May 2023 through an operation conducted in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate and the Police Department. Legal actions have been taken, and the matter has been referred to judicial authorities.

As a result of the investigation initiated by our Ministry of Health regarding the activities of the mentioned hospitals, legal sanction processes have been activated. As the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, we will not allow our healthcare workers, who selflessly fulfill their duties, save lives, and provide healing, to be tarnished by the actions of those who behave inhumanely. We will follow the process that has been referred to the judiciary until the end."

ACTIVITIES OF 2 HOSPITALS SUSPENDED

In the indictment regarding the "Neonatal gang," which includes 22 arrested and 47 suspects, it was revealed that the activities of two of the 19 private hospitals listed as "jointly responsible" have been suspended. It was learned that Bağcılar Private Şafak Hospital has not been operational since September, and Medilife Health Services Hospital has not been operational since May, as captured by the Anadolu Agency (AA) team.

It was observed that there was a handwritten note on the window of Bağcılar Private Şafak Hospital stating, "The hospital is closed," and the entrance of the hospital was blocked and closed with two traffic cones. It was also noted that no one was on duty in the security booth of the two hospitals, and it was empty.

The hospitals where the neonatal gang committed their crimes are as follows:

• Akabe Health Facilities
• Doğamed Health Services
• Ekip Health Services
• Güney Hospital Health Services
• Medilife Health Services
• Private Avcılar Hospital
• Private Avrupa Şafak Hospital
• Private Bağcılar Medlife Hospital
• Private Doğa Hospital
• Private İstanbul Şafak Hospital
• Private İstanbul Şafak Health Services
• Refik Arslan Health Services
• Reyap Health Services Inc.
• Silivri Kolan Hospital
• Yonca Health Services
• Medisense Health Services Company
• GMZ Health Services
• Private Reyap İstanbul Hospital
• Private TRG Hospitalist Hospital