Health Minister Memişoğlu at COP31: We provide services with our 1.5 million health army

Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu attended the 'Dynamic and Resilient Health Systems: Country Experiences' panel held on November 9, 2026, as part of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya. During the session, moderated by former Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Turkey's health services, managed with a workforce of 1.5 million health professionals and a capacity of over 1,500 hospitals, were discussed.

Minister Memişoğlu stated that the 'Turkey Extreme Heat Health Action Plan' has been implemented to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on health, and that risk maps have been created at the district level. It was stated that 'Green Hospital' practices, which include energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in 809 public health facilities, are continuing in this process supported by digital infrastructure data.

Touching upon Turkey's domestic production capacity, Memişoğlu announced that technologies such as ventilators, heart-lung machines, and mobile digital X-ray devices have been developed, and that ventilators have been exported to 45 countries and automatic external defibrillators to 16 countries. Additionally, information was provided regarding the continuity of health services during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes and the activities of the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE).

Within the scope of the call for international solidarity, the 'Antalya Initiative for Resilient Health Systems' (AIR) was introduced. While figures such as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Brazilian Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha, and Australian Centre for Disease Control Director-General Zoe Wainter took part in the panel, attention was drawn to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the responsibilities regarding access to health services.