Istanbul family medicine practices record 51.8 million examinations

Family medicine practices in Istanbul recorded approximately 51.8 million examinations between January 1 and July 31. This figure represents a significant portion of the 130.4 million total examinations conducted in the city during the same period.

During this seven-month window, healthcare providers conducted cancer screenings for roughly 460,000 individuals, leading to cancer diagnoses in approximately 1,500 asymptomatic patients. Additionally, family physicians facilitated direct referrals to specialist physicians at hospitals for about 2 million people, bypassing the Central Physician Appointment System (MHRS).

Istanbul Provincial Health Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Emre Güner noted that the city's healthcare infrastructure has undergone a major transformation since the implementation of the Health Transformation Program in 2002. He highlighted that hospital bed capacity in Istanbul has increased from approximately 19,000 in 2002 to between 46,000 and 47,000 today, with a shift toward more comfortable, private patient rooms.