26.06.2020 Ankara
In cooperation with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the US Chamber of Commerce, a video roundtable meeting was held with Health Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca.
At
the opening of the meeting, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Turkey and the Middle East Senior Vice President Khush
Choksy, gave speeches.
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu said in his speech that they have been cooperating
with TOBB and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a long time, working together on
various projects, organizing sector-specific, technical meetings, among them, the
health sector holds the most important place.
Thanks
to the long-established health system and the effective management of Minister
Koca, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the pandemic process in Turkey has been
successfully managed, “I would like to once again express my gratitude to our
health workers, who connect us to life, especially our Minister. So, as TOBB,
from day one, we acted in consultation with all segments. We compiled business
people's problems, demands and recommendations and passed them on to the
Government. We have contributed to the preparation process of support packages.
Now, we are working to adapt to the post-Covid-19 period.”
Khush
Choksy, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Turkey and the
Middle East, said TOBB has been cooperating robustly with the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce and the Department of Health in the health sector for over five years.
Stating
that they support Turkey's efforts to combat the Coronavirus and closely follow
the ongoing normalization process in both countries, Choksy congratulated the
Turkish Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Authority under the Ministry of
Health for being the newest regulatory member of ICH.
Referring
to the opportunity to cooperate in three areas between the two countries,
Choksy outlined these opportunities: “The rapid access/approval system for
treatments/vaccines to be developed for the patients of Covid-19 and
comorbidities, cooperation between US research hospitals and Turkey's city
hospitals, and the successful fight against pandemics under the leadership of
the Minister in Turkey to improve health tourism.”
Health
Minister Koca also gave a speech on Turkey's fight with Covid-19 and the Future
of Turkey-US Cooperation in Health. Minister Koca, referring to the work done
in the process of combating Covid-19, said that the success of states in
dealing with the epidemic highlights the concept of state capacity, and that
those who invest in health, food, supply chains and infrastructure have had a more
success.
Minister
Koca, after his speech, answered questions posed by the member companies of the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce.