There are various factors contributing to Turkey’s success in healthcare services, and I can explain this achievement by addressing the following points:
- Extensive Healthcare Infrastructure: Turkey possesses a wide healthcare infrastructure, with healthcare centers, clinics, and hospitals located in almost every district and village. This ensures that a significant portion of the population can access healthcare services easily.
- Health Transformation Program: In 2003, Turkey initiated the Health Transformation Program, embarking on a comprehensive reform process to improve healthcare services. This program aimed to strengthen infrastructure, increase healthcare personnel, develop medical technologies, and provide better services to citizens.
- Well-Educated Healthcare Personnel: Turkey has well-trained and experienced healthcare professionals across various fields, including nurses, doctors, technicians, and specialists. Qualified healthcare workers play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of healthcare services.
- Access to Medicines and Technology: Turkey has generally been successful in ensuring access to medicines and medical technologies. This facilitates patients’ access to necessary treatments and enhances the effectiveness of healthcare services.
- Public-Private Sector Collaboration: In Turkey, the public and private healthcare sectors work together and complement each other. Public hospitals often provide low-cost services to citizens with lower income, while private hospitals cater to those in higher income brackets.
- Pandemic Experience: Dealing with a global pandemic like COVID-19 has provided Turkey with valuable experience. The efforts made in increasing healthcare infrastructure capacity, progressing with vaccinations, and coordinating healthcare services during the pandemic have strengthened the healthcare system.
However, like any healthcare system, Turkey’s healthcare services also face challenges and improvement opportunities. These include further enhancing service quality, reducing regional disparities, and developing more inclusive solutions for healthcare access.
