02.12.2025 18:41
The Minister of Health, Kemal Memişoğlu, announced that domestically produced automatic defibrillators, which are vital in cases of cardiac arrest, will be widely distributed across Turkey between 2026 and 2028. It is planned that these devices, developed by ASELSAN, will be required to be present in areas with heavy human traffic, such as airports, shopping malls, and stations.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu stated that they will gradually increase the presence of automatic shock devices developed by ASELSAN, which will help patients survive events such as cardiac arrest, in areas with high human density such as airports, shopping malls, and stations during the 2026-2028 period.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu introduced the automatic shock devices named 'Automatic External Defibrillator' (AED) produced by ASELSAN. The ceremony held at the Ministry was attended by the General Director of Health Improvement, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Atak, the General Director of Emergency Health Services, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eray Çınar, and the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Health and Food Policies Board, Prof. Dr. Serkan Topaloğlu. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said, "Today, Turkey is one of the countries that can intervene quickly and effectively in the most challenging situations, from disasters to epidemics. Now, there is a Turkey that is not just following the world in health but is being emulated for its experience."
HEALTHY TURKEY CENTURY Memişoğlu stated that they are adding another technological leap on top of this solid infrastructure, saying, "For those critical moments when seconds are vital in emergencies, we are bringing the automatic shock device project developed with ASELSAN's collaboration and the power of our local engineering to life. This project is a historic milestone in Turkey's health vision. As representatives of the principle 'Save a life so the state can live'; we consider it our greatest duty to put technology at the service of human life. Our vision of a 'Healthy Turkey Century' represents an understanding that transforms data into information, information into wisdom, and wisdom into service. The automatic shock devices we are introducing today will serve as a lifeline for our citizens until our ambulance team arrives during moments when intervention is measured in seconds, such as cardiac arrest. These locally produced devices signed by ASELSAN are equipped with a user-friendly interface, a Turkish voice command system, and smart technology that can make our citizens the heroes of the moment. The device analyzes the rhythm and decides whether a shock is needed," he said.
TARGETING AREAS WITH HIGH HUMAN DENSITY Minister Memişoğlu highlighted the regulation they prepared, stating, "Within the framework of our strategic plan covering the years 2026-2028; we will gradually increase the presence of these devices in areas with high human density such as airports, shopping malls, and stations. Just as our ambulances operate in strong cooperation with our citizens in traffic, this application strengthens the first link of the emergency health chain, telling each citizen 'when the heart stops, you don't stop.' This is also a call for social solidarity. Our goal is to empower our citizens' first aid awareness, turning every individual into a potential lifesaver. I invite everyone to be a voluntary member of our health army, ready to save lives. We must make the understanding that 'first aid saves lives' not just a motto but a common reflex of our society," he expressed.
"GÖKBEY WILL JOIN OUR AMBULANCE FLEET IN 2026" Emphasizing that Turkey's health organization has the capacity to reach not only its own citizens but all those in need, Minister Memişoğlu stated, "Our structure, which quickly mobilizes in emergencies and organizes the field, demonstrates Turkey's capabilities in this area. Especially during the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, while the world remained silent and watched the events unfold as if watching a movie, Turkey, under the determined leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has taken a historic stance. The evacuation of our injured brothers and children with cancer to our country has gone down in history as one of the largest medical humanitarian operations in the Middle East. Our local and national initiatives are not limited to medical devices. I proudly state that our future in the skies, our local helicopter GÖKBEY, will join our ambulance helicopter fleet in 2026, starting to deliver healing. When GÖKBEY takes off, it will not only transport a patient but will also elevate Turkey's technological independence and self-confidence to the skies. In the last 20 years, we have written a global success story in emergency health services. Our number of stations, which was 480, has now exceeded 3,500. We have increased our ambulance fleet 40 times, surpassing 6,300. In the first 10 months of 2025, we reached 6 million citizens. Our teams have intervened in more than 5,500 patients with our helicopter and airplane ambulances," he stated.
At the end of the program, Minister Memişoğlu took a commemorative photo with the emergency health teams and also visited the stands where the locally produced AED devices were introduced.