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First Healthcare Cooperation Protocol Between Syria and Turkey for Hospital Rebuilding
Syria and Turkey have signed their first healthcare cooperation protocol in years, which includes the operation of the Heart Hospital in Damascus and the Oncology Hospital in Aleppo. Officials described this step as "historic" and part of efforts to rehabilitate the Syrian healthcare sector, which was severely affected during the years of conflict.
The agreement was signed at the end of official talks between Turkish Minister of Health, Kamil Mamisoglu, and his Syrian counterpart, Musab Nizal Al-Ali, at the Turkish Ministry of Health headquarters in the Bilkent Complex, Ankara. The ministers signed a "Protocol for operating the Heart Hospital in Damascus and the Oncology Hospital in Aleppo" for a period of five years, renewable with mutual consent.
Both ministers emphasized that this agreement lays the foundation for broader cooperation in the healthcare sector and reflects a shared desire to rebuild Syria’s healthcare system, based on the Turkish model, which is considered among the most advanced globally.
The Syrian Minister stated that the Heart Hospital in Damascus will begin providing services within 90 days, while the Oncology Hospital in Aleppo is expected to be operational within 180 days. He also noted that "Syria will greatly benefit from Turkish expertise, especially in planning, operation, and medical equipment."
In his part, the Turkish Minister described the signing day as a "pivotal moment in the health cooperation between the two countries," noting that "this protocol is the result of more than ten meetings and field visits conducted over the past six months, including inspections of hospitals and health directorates in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia."
The two ministers agreed that signing this protocol represents more than just an operational agreement; it embodies the "spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility" between Turkey and Syria in the humanitarian field.
The Turkish Minister expressed willingness to share all his country’s expertise and knowledge to support the Syrian people, while the Syrian Minister described this step as a "historic achievement and a significant gain for Syria."
This initiative is part of the countries’ efforts to rebuild the Syrian healthcare sector, which was heavily damaged in recent years, amid political and health movements aimed at strengthening cooperation between Ankara and Damascus in humanitarian and developmental issues.
