Newsletters
Türkiye and Syria signed a historic healthcare cooperation agreement Tuesday that will see Turkish authorities operate a cardiac hospital in Damascus and an oncology facility in Aleppo, marking a significant step in post-conflict medical reconstruction efforts.
Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu and his Syrian counterpart Musab Nizal el-Ali formalized the "Damascus Heart Hospital and Alepoo Oncology Hospital Operating Protocol" during a ceremony at Türkiye's Health Ministry campus in Bilkent.
The five-year agreement, which can be extended with mutual consent, represents Türkiye's commitment to sharing its healthcare expertise with Syria as the country rebuilds its medical infrastructure following years of conflict.
"The planning and operational processes of the health facilities to be operated by us in Aleppo and Damascus will be shaped by Türkiye's experience," Memisoglu said during the signing ceremony. "Türkiye has started taking the necessary steps regarding urgent needs from the first moment of the new process in Syria."
The Turkish minister emphasized that healthcare transcends borders, stating: "When it comes to humans, geography becomes irrelevant. Wherever it may be, human life is valuable to us. In our belief and tradition, humans come first. As Türkiye, we are a civilization that prioritizes keeping people alive."
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership, Türkiyehas developed what officials describe as a world-class healthcare infrastructure, including the innovative city hospital model and digital health systems that will now be shared with Syria.
Memişoğlu detailed the extensive preparation that preceded the agreement, noting that Turkish teams conducted more than 10 technical and political meetings and field visits over the past six months. Turkish delegations inspected hospitals, health directorates, and biomedical infrastructure in Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia.
The cooperation builds on discussions the two ministers held last month during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, where they strengthened their partnership framework.
As part of the Syrian minister's visit, el-Ali toured Ankara Bilkent City Hospital and the TÜSEB Aziz Sancar Research Center, receiving comprehensive presentations on Türkiye emergency health services, city hospital model, and digital health infrastructure.
Syrian Health Minister el-Ali described Tuesday as "historic," confirming that the Damascus cardiac facility will become operational within 90 days, while the Aleppo oncology hospital will begin services within 180 days.
"As Syria, we will benefit greatly from this agreement," el-Ali said. "Above all, we will gain Türkiye's experience in this field."
4 min read
