Published in the Official Gazette: 'SMS approved' new era in hospitals

With the new regulation of the Ministry of Health, the informed consent required for medical interventions can now be obtained electronically. Patients will be able to approve transactions via e-Nabız or with a single-use SMS password sent to their mobile phones.

A new era has begun regarding the informed consent process in healthcare services.

The "Regulation on Obtaining Informed Consent Electronically" prepared by the Ministry of Health came into force by being published in the Official Gazette dated October 27, 2026.

Within the scope of the regulation, patients' consent for medical interventions can be obtained electronically as well as through physical documents.

IT COVERS ALL HEALTH STAGES

Regulation; It will be implemented in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions.

Patients will be able to access the informed consent form prepared for them via e-Nabız or through the electronic communication systems of their healthcare institutions.

After the form is prepared and approved by the medical staff, the patient will be able to approve the medical intervention electronically by reviewing the necessary information.

HOW TO GIVE APPROVAL VIA SMS?

A link providing access to the informed consent form can be sent to the patient's verified mobile phone number.

After reviewing the form, if the patient accepts the transaction, he/she will give approval using a disposable SMS password that will be sent to his/her mobile phone.

Approval can be made directly via e-Nabız or can be completed through the healthcare institution's own electronic system.

When the health institution's system is used, the patient will inform the relevant healthcare personnel about the single-use password sent to his mobile phone. The consent process will be considered valid after the password is entered into the system and the verification is completed.

IDENTITY VERIFICATION IS REQUIRED

In order to initiate the electronic consent process, the patient's identity and mobile phone number will need to be verified.

Informed consent process cannot be initiated electronically for persons whose identity has not been verified.

PHONE NUMBER WILL BE VALID FOR 12 MONTHS

The mobile phone number verified through the health institution's system will be considered valid for 12 months.

After this period expires, the phone number will need to be re-verified in order to continue the electronic consent process.

DOCUMENTS WILL BE STORED IN e-NABIZ

Informed consent documents created electronically will be stored in the central health data system of the Ministry of Health.

Patients will be able to access the electronic consents and related documents they have previously given via e-Nabız.

The date and time of approval, SMS verification information and records regarding the healthcare personnel carrying out the procedure will also be kept in the system.

ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS FOR DATA SECURITY

The regulation also included regulations regarding the security of electronic documents and the protection of personal data.

Technical methods that ensure encryption, time stamping and electronic data integrity will be used to ensure the security of records.

Systems related to healthcare institutions will need to comply with obligations regarding the protection of personal data and information security.