A Check-Up on Turkey's Healthcare Yields a Good Prognosis

Turkey’s Ministry of Health oversees more than 1,000 public hospitals throughout the country and is no stranger to continuously improving its quality of health care and patient safety.  The country also houses more than 375 private hospitals , and in fact, has the most accredited JCI organizations in all of Europe—totaling 28 private hospitals.  Many have been re-accredited twice (dating back to 2002).  That number is expected to continue growing as time passes.

What is even more commendable than the demonstrated results is the country’s continuous pursuit towards achieving better health care.  The Ministry has teamed up with JCI to transform Turkey’s health care system by developing its own set of standards to measure hospital quality.

To that end, JCI helped the Ministry develop a road map highlighting key areas of focus:  hospital design, medication management, infection control, medical transport, patient safety and quality improvement, care continuum (as it relates to home care), and primary care. 

Following a series of six practica each lasting two weeks in addition to three months of education programs, approximately 70 people are trained and ready to evaluate hospital design as it relates to patient safety; this achievement is a strong step forward as Turkey pursues its desire to have its own accreditation system.  The Ministry’s next goal is to develop primary health care standards.

After this glimpse into the state of Turkish healthcare, I must give Turkey a doctor’s positive prognosis.

Carlo Ramponi, MD, MBA
Managing Director, European International Office
Joint Commission International
cramponi@jcrinc.com