Central Bank of Türkiye spends 495 million TL on staff health insurance

The Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (TCMB) has allocated approximately 495 million TL for private health insurance coverage for its personnel and their dependents for the year 2025. This expenditure is being funded directly from the bank's budget.

The Turkish Court of Accounts (Sayıştay) has issued warnings regarding this practice, noting that similar objections have been raised in audit reports since 2013. The Court of Accounts argues that because employees are already covered under the mandatory Social Security Institution (SGK) general health insurance, the bank's budget should not be used to purchase additional private group health insurance. Auditors have stated that terminating this practice is a “legal necessity,” emphasizing that regulations from the Bank Assembly cannot supersede national law.

In response, the TCMB has rejected the findings. The institution maintains that its unique legal status grants the Bank Assembly the authority to determine the rights and guarantees of its staff. The bank argues that providing supplementary health coverage in addition to SGK services is not prohibited by legislation and that such assistance does not constitute a violation of the law.