32 military hospitals officially brought under control of Health Ministry

All military health institutions were brought under the Health Ministry simultaneously across the country at 5 p.m., the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also added health services would continue in a much strengthened and accessible way without any disruption in service.

In addition, it stressed the military hospitals which were brought under the ministry’s control should not be considered equal with hospitals which were seized as a part of the investigation into the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which was blamed on orchestrating the failed takeover.

Meanwhile, the Gülhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in the capital Ankara was renamed the Gülhane Education and Research Hospital on Aug. 27, one day after the transference came into force.

The academy’s Haydarpaşa Education Hospital in Istanbul was also renamed after the 34th sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdulhamid II, due to his initiations for the foundation of medicine faculties at the time.

The restructuring process of the military health services and military schools came after a state of emergency decree law announced on July 31 after the failed coup attempt.

According to the decree law, GATA and other military health services had been decided to be transferred to the control of the Health Ministry.

In addition, military schools were also shut down and military barracks were begun to be relocated outside of city centers.