Ukraine and Turkey intensify cooperation in the medical sphere - potential areas discussed
During his working visit to Turkey, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko met with Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Turkey Huseyfe Yilmaz. During the meeting, the participants discussed the prospects for cooperation in the healthcare sector, Ukraine’s experience in public-private partnerships, the development of medical partnerships between the two countries, etc. The Minister of Health of Ukraine also familiarized himself with the work of one of the leading hospitals in Turkey — Basaksehir Cam & Sakura City Hospital.
“Today, the Ukrainian medical system is facing unprecedented challenges due to the full-scale war. However, our heroic medics continue to fulfill their duties under any circumstances, saving lives and providing assistance to the injured. We continue to work on restoring the medical infrastructure and developing the medical system. The help and support of international partners is very important for this. We appreciate the opportunities for cooperation that allow us to bring the latest medical technologies to Ukraine, exchange experience and knowledge between doctors from different countries. Since the first days of the full-scale war, Turkey has been actively helping and supporting Ukraine in the international arena. In addition, the Ministry of Health of Turkey provides numerous humanitarian aid, including medical equipment and medicines. I am grateful to our partners. I am confident that our cooperation will continue and become even stronger.”
Viktor Liashko noted that Ukraine highly appreciates Turkey’s experience in the healthcare sector and proposes to intensify bilateral cooperation between the countries in such areas as:
· rehabilitation — cooperation in prosthetics and rehabilitation of the wounded, exchange of experience and technologies to improve the quality of life of the victims. Ukraine invites Turkish specialists to join rehabilitation programs. Another important issue is the possibility of accepting Ukrainian servicemen for rehabilitation in Turkish hospitals, in particular, in the Basaksehir Cam & Sakura City Hospital.
· public-private partnership (PPP) — Ukraine is interested in attracting financial, human, and managerial investments from the private sector in the modernization of healthcare and in using Turkish experience in implementing PPPs in the healthcare sector. In particular, the example of a PPP project based on the Basaksehir Cam & Sakura City Hospital will be useful for the implementation of a public-private partnership initiative in Ukraine.
· exchange of experience — training of Ukrainian specialists in Turkey, advanced training of Ukrainian doctors through internships in leading Turkish medical institutions, and joint research. At the same time, Turkey will benefit from Ukraine’s experience in responding to emergencies, building a sustainable healthcare system in the face of wars and disasters, etc.
· international medical partnership — support and development of cooperation between Ukrainian and Turkish medical institutions at the state level. The objectives of the cooperation are to exchange best medical practices and experience in professional development of healthcare professionals, joint research and innovation, and the introduction of the latest technologies.
It should be recalled that on January 13, 2024, a Memorandum of International Medical Partnership was signed between Acibadem Altunizade Clinic and the Regional Medical Center for Family Health in Dnipro. The medical institutions are developing cooperation in plastic reconstructive surgery and maxillofacial surgery. The hospitals initiated the exchange of experience even before the war in Ukraine began. As a result, in 2023, Ukrainian and Turkish specialists jointly operated on more than 60 children with complex developmental disabilities and diseases of the maxillofacial area. In 2024, 56 children have already been operated on.
· development of the regulatory framework — the possibility of preparing and signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Turkey. The Memorandum will be a continuation of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the CMU and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare and Medical Science of 21.05.1998.
Also during the meeting, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko familiarized himself with the work of the departments of the Turkish leading hospital — Basaksehir Cam & Sakura City Hospital, in particular, with the rehabilitation and psychological care departments, high-tech and innovative departments.
It should be noted that the hospital is currently the third-largest healthcare investment project in Turkey. It was implemented by the Ministry of Health of Turkey on a build–operate–transfer (BOT) public-private partnership model, with funding provided by nine global financial corporations, including the Bank of Japan and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.
The complex consists of eight specialized hospitals. The six blocks of the main hospital include general medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics and neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiac surgery, and oncology. At the time of commissioning, the complex had 725 consultation rooms and 2,682 beds that could be converted to intensive care if necessary. The hospital also has 28 delivery rooms, 90 operating rooms, a 16-bed burn center, and 426 beds in intensive care units for newborns and adults. The institution employs about 4,300 medical professionals, more than 4,000 support staff, and more than 800 managers, which allows it to serve nearly 33,000 patients daily.
The parties discussed further prospects for cooperation between Turkish and Ukrainian institutions. During the visit, they agreed to sign an agreement on the international medical partnership between Basaksehir Cam & Sakura City Hospital and a Ukrainian medical institution to cooperate on burn injuries. A suitable hospital in Ukraine will be selected soon.
The Minister of Health of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Minister of the Republic of Turkey for the meeting and discussion of the priority areas of development for the Ukrainian healthcare industry. The Ministry recognizes the importance of such interactions and expresses gratitude for the support and further cooperation. The Minister also invited representatives of the Turkish side to visit Ukraine and familiarize themselves with the work of the Ukrainian healthcare system despite the challenges of a full-scale war.