# Health Sector Consultation Meeting

The Turkish Health Minister, Memişoğlu, stated that "Health could be Turkey's locomotive sector"

Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu attended the Health Sector Consultation Meeting hosted by Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB). The meeting, which included representatives from five sectors—pharmaceuticals, medical, cosmetics, healthcare services, and international health tourism—addressed the challenges in these sectors and discussed possible solutions. In his opening speech, Minister Memişoğlu emphasized that they manage and develop health services in a way that can serve as a global example. He noted that simply providing quality healthcare services is not enough, saying, "It is not sufficient to only deliver good healthcare services to Turkey. With such highly skilled healthcare professionals, excellent infrastructure, and a strong workforce, just providing the best accessible healthcare in the world is no longer enough for us. We must now become a leading force in the global health sector. If we are to be pioneers, we need to produce knowledge in health, create health technologies, and introduce new innovations related to healthcare. As we move forward, we aim not only to focus on the service aspect of healthcare but also to take steps with you to make Turkey a starting point for every kind of health innovation worldwide." He continued, "We are working with the belief that the health sector could become Turkey's leading industry. One of our biggest goals is to make the significant progress we have experienced in healthcare in Turkey reach a global level. It is predicted that in the future, there will be major changes in biology and healthcare globally. Therefore, with your excitement and support, we must open up new horizons today in healthcare. This horizon is not just about providing services; it is about producing technology, manufacturing devices, or forming partnerships in Turkey with major global manufacturers. Turkey should not just be a place where health devices are marketed, but a place where they are produced, or where partnerships are formed. We must all work together to make this happen." Minister Memişoğlu also emphasized his commitment to supporting efforts related to production in the health sector, stating, "I promise that my team and I will support every individual, whether from the public or private sector, who makes efforts in production and who strives to do good things. We are a people who have great talent in creating new things. I know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many different solutions were produced on the ground that no one had imagined. When you look at it, we achieved great success by coming together during crises without any discrimination. However, once we get comfortable, our problems reappear. That is why I believe this society needs to highlight its unifying aspects rather than its divisive ones. Our differences are a source of richness, and I strongly believe that if we work together, there is nothing we cannot achieve." After Minister Memişoğlu's speech, the Health Sector Consultation Meeting continued behind closed doors.