17.10.2026 15:30
President Erdoğan, stating that at one time patients were held hostage in hospitals, said, "We did not reach these points in healthcare easily. We had periods when those without money could not receive service, when civil servants had a separate hospital and workers had a separate one, and when prescriptions could not be found at pharmacies. We experienced periods when ambulances were a luxury, when those who did not pay 'knife money' could not undergo surgery, and patients were held hostage. With the projects we have implemented over 24 years, we have completely reversed this picture in healthcare."
Speaking at the Mass Groundbreaking and Mass Opening Ceremony of Istanbul University Hospital Çapa Campus, President Erdoğan recalled that at one time patients were held hostage in hospitals and stated that with the steps taken in the field of health, they reversed this picture.
Erdoğan, who said "We did not reach these points in health easily," said, "There were periods when those without money could not receive service, when civil servants had their own hospitals and workers had their own hospitals, and when prescriptions were not available at pharmacies. We experienced periods when ambulances were a luxury, when those who did not pay bribe money could not undergo surgery, and when patients were held hostage. With the projects we have brought to life for 24 years, we have completely reversed this picture in health. With our state hospitals, city hospitals, and foundation hospitals, we provide quality health services to our people. We have put health facilities worth 223 billion lira into service. We will make Turkey a global attraction center in health. We have almost rebuilt Istanbul's health infrastructure from scratch," he stated.