Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu held a meeting with Ankara representatives of media organizations on Wednesday, 14 August 2024. Memişoğlu stated that this was an introductory meeting and provided information about the projects carried out and planned by the Ministry and the roadmap of the coming period. He shared his personal e-mail address and phone number with the media representatives before starting the meeting. Memişoğlu emphasized in his speech that Türkiye has a health system that will be an example to the world in terms of both manpower and infrastructure, as seen in the COVID-19 pandemic and the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş. Stating that the health sector, like energy, tourism and defense industry, is also a locomotive of our country, Memişoğlu added, “Our country has the capacity to produce health information and science, and to produce the technology and materials. It just needs some organizational support to turn this wheel, and it also needs motivation and morale. We all have to act together on this issue.”We Need to Eliminate Risks Together Concerning preventive health measures, Memişoğlu, stated that they aim to explain preventive health to people of all ages and to ensure that society acquires healthy living habits in the long term. He continued his speech by saying, “Addiction and weight are the two most important risks of society, and inactivity, nutritional disorders and low fertility rates are actually our biggest risks for the future. We need to eliminate these risks with the support of society, I think (as the media representatives) you will have a very important impact on this point.” “I am the Minister of Health of the public, universities, the private sector, the pharmaceutical industry, and those who produce health technology products. I am responsible for leading the way and paving the way for how all of them will grow and develop in terms of health services. I am the Minister of Health, not just of the public, but of all health. The private sector also needs to grow and develop” said Memişoğlu.We Will Not Allow Abuse of Health and We Will Address This Issue Memişoğlu further stated that “Health is a public service. Health institutions operated by the private sector also provide public services. They are different only in terms of operation and financing. All institutions that perform operations other than medical necessity regarding health are inspected and penalized, regardless of whether they are public or private. Sometimes inspections are carried out upon complaint, sometimes routinely, and sometimes unannounced. We have a very good infrastructure in this regard. We will not allow abuse of health and we will address this issue. We have a private sector that provides good health services and is an example to the world. The private sector also serves the public and provides great benefits to our country. We will encourage a private sector that sees health as a public service under our control.” Answering questions about monkeypox and COVID-19, Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu said, “We are following the developments regarding monkeypox and COVID-19. However, we are not currently in any state of alarm.”There is No Problem Regarding Medicine Supply Concerning medicine supply in pharmacies, Memişoğlu stated that there is no problem with medicine in pharmacies, that the issue should be evaluated not directly on the brand of the medicine but on the active ingredient, and that there is no problem regarding medicine supply. The meeting held with representatives of media organizations was attended by Ankara representatives of news agencies, television and newspapers, and officials from the Ministry of Health.
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