Healthcare and Crime: Unlikely Allies?

Türkiye is a country that is taking a bold step. It is trying to see if giving free healthcare to the poorest people can make a dent in crime rates. This is not a small task. It involves looking at a lot of data and making sense of it all. The idea is simple. Give people free healthcare. This is not just any healthcare. It is full coverage. This means that people do not have to worry about paying for doctor visits or medicine. This is a big deal for people who are struggling to make ends meet. It can take a huge weight off their shoulders. Now, here is where it gets interesting. Researchers want to see if this free healthcare can actually change behavior. Can it make people less likely to commit crimes? It is a big question. And it is one that has not been answered for developing countries. This is where Türkiye comes in. The country has a program called the Green Card. It gives free healthcare to people who are really struggling. These are people whose income is less than one-third of the minimum wage. The researchers are looking at crime rates during the time this program was running. They want to see if there is a connection. This is not just about Türkiye. It is about understanding how healthcare can affect society as a whole. It is about looking at the bigger picture. And it is about asking the tough questions. Can healthcare be a tool for crime prevention? It is a question worth exploring. The findings could have big implications. If free healthcare can indeed reduce crime, it could be a game-changer. It could change the way we think about healthcare and crime prevention. It could also change the way we think about helping those in need. It is a lot to think about. But it is an important conversation to have.