The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey is the central government department charged with protecting and promoting the population's health. Headquartered in Ankara, the ministry sets national health policy, administers public hospitals and coordinates public health programs across the country.
Responsibilities and functions
The ministry's duties include planning and financing health services, licensing and inspecting health facilities, running vaccination and disease-prevention campaigns, organizing primary care and family medicine, and responding to health emergencies. It also regulates pharmaceuticals, medical devices and professional standards through affiliated agencies.
- Public health surveillance and communicable disease control
- Management of state hospitals and emergency services
- Policy development, health promotion and prevention programs
- Regulation of medicines, devices and health professions
History and organization
The ministry grew out of Ottoman and early republican health institutions and was reshaped over decades as Turkey modernized its health infrastructure. Major system-wide reforms in the early 21st century, often referenced as the Health Transformation Program, expanded access to care, strengthened primary care and reorganized hospital provision. The ministry operates through central directorates and provincial health directorates that implement policies locally.
Several agencies operate in coordination with the ministry, including a national public health institution and regulatory bodies for medicines and medical devices. These institutions support disease surveillance, immunization programs and the approval and monitoring of medical products.
Notable roles and leadership
The ministry plays a leading role in nationwide responses to epidemics, mass vaccination campaigns and health system planning. Since 10 July 2018 the ministry has been led by Minister Fahrettin Koca, who represents the ministry in the cabinet and public communications. For official information visit the ministry's site: Ministry of Health, and for details about current leadership see the minister's profile: Fahrettin Koca.