The Ministry organized an iftar program at Gölbaşı Vilayetler Evi with the participation of representatives from the health and information technology sectors. The iftar program, which started with the recitation of the Quran, was addressed by Deputy Minister Yılmaz, who expressed the hope that the month of Ramadan would bring good and blessings to the nation, the Islamic world, and all humanity. Yılmaz emphasized that with the triggering effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital technologies have accelerated in all areas both globally and in Turkey, making innovative moves in fields such as health, defense, education, and agriculture a necessity.
Yılmaz highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in reshaping various fields including healthcare. He pointed out that the digital transformation has allowed for significant innovations in the delivery of healthcare services, access to these services, and even in doctor-patient relationships. Yılmaz mentioned that artificial intelligence is an indispensable new actor in this period, revolutionizing many areas and playing a crucial role in shaping the future. He emphasized that artificial intelligence is not a matter of preference but has become one of the biggest carriers of our development goals in line with the national technology initiative.
Deputy Minister Yılmaz mentioned that the Ministry has formed different project groups consisting of experts and engineers in the field of artificial intelligence and has accelerated work in this area. He stated that the use of artificial intelligence to evaluate mammograms has already begun with great success, reducing the time it takes to report imaging results by 94%. Yılmaz expressed satisfaction with the progress made in this field and announced that other projects developed in this regard will soon be made available to the public. He also mentioned the upcoming Health Artificial Intelligence Summit at the end of the year, aiming to bring together the knowledge of healthcare experts to achieve efficient results.
Yılmaz emphasized that the collaborative efforts in this field are of great importance in the new era where Turkey is rapidly advancing in healthcare informatics, serving as milestones in the country’s digital transformation. He also reiterated Turkey’s stance against the Israeli attacks on Gaza, stating that Turkey is working in collaboration with its friends in the region to aid the oppressed people of Gaza and alleviate their suffering.
The General Manager of Healthcare Information Systems at the Ministry of Health, Şali Yıldırım, emphasized the ministry’s efforts to provide healthcare services to the public in the most efficient and rapid manner through technology. Yıldırım noted that the health technology sector has introduced many innovations and successfully carried out digitalization of healthcare processes. He expressed their commitment to further enhance this success by incorporating artificial intelligence and innovative technologies into their systems to deliver healthcare services to the citizens in the best possible way. Yıldırım concluded by stating that it is important to utilize resources responsibly for noble purposes and to work together with increased determination and effort to advance projects for the benefit of the nation.
