Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal met today in Ankara with Professor Dr Fatma Meric Yilmaz, President of the Turkish Red Crescent, in a discussion aimed at deepening bilateral ties in health and human welfare. The meeting focused on practical steps to expand collaboration and build stronger links between Pakistani and Turkish health institutions.
Both parties expressed satisfaction with the long-standing and close relationship between Pakistan and Turkey and identified new avenues for cooperation. Emphasis was placed on concrete cooperation in blood services, where modernisation and safety improvements were highlighted as immediate priorities.
The delegation agreed to prioritise upgrades in blood bank management systems, adherence to enhanced safety standards, and measures to increase capacity and efficiency in blood services. These steps are intended to improve emergency preparedness and routine transfusion services, reflecting a shared commitment to patient safety and service reliability.
Officials also discussed exchanging experiences on health insurance systems, with attention to best practices, policymaking and service delivery models that can inform reforms in both countries. The conversation underlined the value of mutual learning to strengthen financing and access to care.
Both sides committed to joint training programs and technical exchanges to support implementation, with the aim of creating a more comprehensive, resilient and inclusive health support system. Such collaboration in health cooperation is expected to yield practical benefits for health services and emergency response capacity in Pakistan and Turkey alike.
