Singapore and Turkey Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Health Cooperation

20 Mar 2012

1.    For the first time, Singapore and Turkey have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on health cooperation. The MOU was signed this morning after a bilateral meeting between Minister of Health, Mr Gan Kim Yong, and the Turkish Health Minister, Dr Recep Akdağ. The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Health (MOH).

2.    Covering the exchange of experts and cooperation in improvements to healthcare systems, health research, health promotion and the use of technology in healthcare, this timely MOU underscores the warm bilateral ties between the two countries, especially following the working visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mr Ali Babacan earlier this month, and Singapore’s plan to open an Embassy in the Turkish capital city of Ankara later this year.

3.    Mr Gan said, “We are pleased to partner Turkey in healthcare cooperation and this is in line with Singapore’s aspirations to be a hub for healthcare and medical excellence. We are also keen to learn from the experiences of our Turkish counterparts.”

4.    Dr Akdağ is in Singapore to attend the 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), organised by MOH and Health Promotion Board (HPB). WCTOH is a strategic platform that enables interaction between stakeholders in tobacco control. Dr Akdağ is leading a delegation to study Singapore’s healthcare landscape, with planned visits to the Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic, Singapore Tourism Board, A*STAR, National Heart Centre, National University Cancer Institute, Centre for Advanced Rehabilitation Services at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and HPB.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH