Turkish president calls on foreign companies for joint production in health technology

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on foreign companies in health sector for joint production of scanning devices for the health sector.

“Turkey needs a rapid nationalization and localization in the health sector,” Erdoğan said on Nov. 7, speaking at the academic year opening ceremony of the University of Health Sciences.

Domestic production in the health sector is as important as in the defense sector, he said, stressing the importance of domestic production in health technologies.

Erdoğan said the country should produce its own tomography, ultrasonography and MRI machines, adding that the country has the human capital for this end.

He invited leading foreign companies for joint production in Turkey and said “there are positive approaches” on this issue.

The German giant Siemens may start producing diagnostic imaging devices in Turkey, Erdoğan said in October after his visit to Germany.

The Turkish and German health ministries “may take some joint steps” on the issue of devices such as MR and tomography,” he said, noting that Siemens may make investments in several areas and that this issue would be discussed later on.

Turkey’s potential for health tourism will also leap forward over the launch of city hospitals, Erdoğan also said.

The country will attract foreign patients with new city hospitals, designed to attract not only through the quality of their healthcare but also through “five-star hotel” accommodation services, combining affordable but high-quality healthcare with high-quality accommodation services, said former Health Minister Recep Akdağ.