President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital.
Erdogan noted that Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital was one of the largest hospitals in Istanbul and added that the hospital, which was opened in 1987 with a 150-bed capacity, started to become insufficient over time.
"One of the most earthquake-proof facilities in Istanbul”
Pointing out that the old hospital was not earthquake-proof, Erdogan added that the old hospital building was demolished under the Project on Decreasing the Seismic Risk in Istanbul.
Erdogan continued,"We have built this amazing hospital with an indoor space of 302 thousand square meters, parking space, and conference rooms for Istanbul with an investment of 618 million Turkish Liras. The hospital has a 1105-bed capacity, including 145 ICU beds. Thanks to 855 isolators, this hospital is one of the most earthquake-proof facilities in Istanbul.
We project this hospital to offer services to 3.5 million outpatients and 150 thousand inpatients annually. We project 100 thousand operations to take place here, cancer surgery, in particular. We will further expand this hospital with a 150-bed oncology hospital to be built soon. This will increase the bed capacity to 1250 and the number of outpatient clinics to 250."
"From Brazil to Somalia, many countries used Turkish ventilators"
Noting that from Brazil to Somalia, many countries had used Turkish ventilators, Erdogan continued, "We have sent medical supplies and equipment to 138 countries regardless of religion, language and ethnicity. Again, we have also developed ventilators, which were designed by Turkish engineers and developed by Turkish companies. Right now, we are exporting these devices. Our exemplary response to the coronavirus has presented us a new opportunity for health tourism. We are committed to making Turkey the best health destination of three continents. I believe that this city hospital will get us one step closer to this goal."
"We have seen the importance of health investments"
Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca, also delivered a statement at the opening ceremony of Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital and said that Turkey had a very robust healthcare system thanks to the ever-increasing importance attached to health by President Erdogan.
Koca said, "During this pandemic period, we have seen the importance of health investments and how meaningful they are. A robust healthcare system, a highly-developed infrastructure and a selfless and qualified army of health workers are the most important elements in times like these. Istanbul is welcoming a new era of healthcare services as we open one hospital after the other."
"Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital is equipped with seismic isolators, which will allow for all services to continue in case of an earthquake", said Koca and continued, "The new building of the hospital has four blocks. The total floor area of the building is 55 thousand square meters. It has an indoor parking space with a capacity of 826 vehicles. It has 1105 beds, including 153 ICU beds. The hospital is also equipped with 45 full-fledged operating rooms."
Noting that Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital was being used as a pandemic hospital, Koca said, "Our biggest consolation is that we have not lost a single healthcare worker from this hospital. On this occasion, I would like to commemorate all healthcare workers, who have lost their lives."
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