Turkish Health Minister calls for global health security at UN

Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu addressed the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Preparedness during the 81st General Assembly week. He emphasized that pandemics represent a shared responsibility for global health security that no single nation can manage alone, necessitating collective action and international cooperation.

Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, Memişoğlu noted that Turkey’s robust health infrastructure ensured all citizens had access to medical treatment. He stated that the country’s experiences and resources were transformed into a spirit of global solidarity during that period.

Memişoğlu also highlighted severe medical inequalities, specifically pointing to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He criticized the lack of access to vaccines and essential medicines for innocent people, including women and children, stating that global health security and conscience cannot be discussed in a world where people die simply because they cannot access medical treatment.