1st Annual Conference on Medical Development in the Balkans and Eurasia 13 -15 November 2009 , İstanbul

The 1st Annual Conference on Medical Development in the Balkans and Eurasia organized by the DEİK/Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey Healthcare Committee in partnership with Turkish International Development and Cooperation Agency (TİKA) took place in İstanbul from November 13th to November 15th, 2009 with the sponsorship of Accredited Hospitals Association of Turkey (AHAT).

The conference, attended by over 30 high level public health officials, medical institute chairs and university rectors as well as members of the international press from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldovo, Romania and Kazakhstan, was deemed a success by all participating parties.

The 1st Annual Conference on Medical Development in the Balkans and Eurasia Opening Dinner was held in Feriye Restaurant in İstanbul on 13 November 2009. The opening speeches were delivered by Ms.Meri Bahar, Chairwoman of the DEİK Healthcare Comittee, Mr.Ruşen Yıldırım, Executive Board Member of AHAT, Mr.Başaran Ulusoy, Chairman of TÜRSAB  (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies), Mr.Abdullah Güven, representative of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Mr.Rona Yırcalı, Chairman of the Executive Board of DEİK and Mr.Musa Kulaklıkaya, Chairman of TİKA.

The Conference continued the next day with panels on Organ and Tissue Transplantation & Stem Cell Applications; Endoscopic Surgery and Application Fields; Cardiology; Neuropathology; Ophthalmology, which are the medical treatment services most frequently provided to the 11 participating countries. The Conference also included panels on Critical Issues in Hospital Management and Local Needs Regarding the Education of Medical Professionals. 

The Conference successfully assessed the latest developments in the Turkish medical environment and appraised the situation in the participating countries, thus helping in the know-how and technology transfer amongst all countries in the region. The Conference is believed to be instrumental in creating an environment of synergy in the region.