Minister of Health, Dr. Fahrettin Koca, held a video conference with rectors, deans and chief physicians of 6 universities. Minister had another meeting with the health directors of 81 provinces after this meeting.
The first meeting was attended by the Rector of Ankara University, Prof. Erkan İbiş, Rector of Hacettepe University, Prof. Haluk Özen, Rector of Cerrahpaşa University, Prof. Nuri Aydın, Rector of Istanbul University, Prof. Mahmut Ak, Rector of Gazi University, Prof. İbrahim Uslan, Rector of İnönü University, Prof. Ahmet Kızılay, deans of the faculties of medicine and chief physicians.
Pointing out that during the pandemic, the weight had been on the shoulders of public, private and university hospitals, Koca added that the number of cases increased as the number of tests performed increased. Noting that the increase was not very high, Koca continued, "What has been different in Turkey recently compared to other countries was that the number of patients in the ICU and number of intubated patients were going down. Today, for the first time, number of intubated patients in ICU fell down. We are talking about a decrease of 3-3.5%. This is a significant figure."
Koca noted that the number of admitted patients were low due to early diagnosis and the fact that hydroxychloroquine was administered to even outpatients. Koca continued:
"China used favipiravir mostly on intubated patients while we prefer to use it in the early period. We can see that it helps avoid intensive care. Every day, the number of patients receiving intensive care and their duration of stay decrease."
During the meeting, the parties discussed the contribution of university hospitals to the fight against the pandemic, treatment protocols, bed occupancy rates, medical equipment and supplies, and needs. Participants thanked the Ministry of Health for rapidly meeting their medical supply and drug needs.
In another video conference later that evening, Minister exchanged views with the health directors of 81 provinces.
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