Damascus, June 19 (SANA)SyriaandTürkiyesigned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the health sector, developing coordination and exchange of expertise, and buildinghealthcare capacitiesbetween the two countries.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Health in Damascus bySyrian Health Minister Musab al-Aliand his Turkish counterpartKemal Memişoğlu.

The MoU stipulates cooperation in public health, hospital management, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, vaccines, health legislation, genetics and medical laboratories, and the development of human resources in the health sector.

It also includes cooperation in public health fields such as family medicine, mental health, geriatrics, disease control, early cancer detection programs, and strengthening health security, in addition to implementing quality and accreditation standards.

Further areas of cooperation cover the development of the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology, support for scientific research and innovation, and enhanced exchange in genetics, medical laboratories, organ transplantation, and traditional and complementary medicine.

Both sides agreed to establish an advisory group, organize scientific events, and strengthen humanitarian work, in addition to opening an oncology hospital in Aleppo governorate later this year upon completion of its medical equipment and supplies.

Syrian Health Minister Musab al-Ali said that the visit of the Turkish health minister and the signing of the MoU represent an important milestone in strengthening medical cooperation between the two countries, particularly in exchanging expertise in line with the latest medical protocols.

He added that the agreement supports efforts to develop an advanced health insurance system and focus on accreditation programs and continuing medical education, benefiting from Türkiye’s healthcare transformation experience to improve services in Syria.

For his part, Turkish Health Minister Memişoğlu said the agreement reflects the depth of fraternal relations between the two countries and lays the foundation for a new phase of cooperation in the health sector serving both peoples.

He affirmed Türkiye’s readiness to provide support and assistance to Syria in healthcare development and expand cooperation and exchange of expertise.

Meanwhile, Director of International Cooperation at the Syrian Ministry of Health, Zuhair Qarrat, said the MoU emphasizes health and digital transformation and the use of international expertise in developing the medical sector to help rebuild an integrated health system in Syria.

Prior to the signing, the two ministers conducted a field visit to the Damascus Heart Disease and Surgery Hospital in Dummar, where they reviewed hospital operations, observed services provided to patients, and examined performance indicators as an example of joint cooperation in the health sector.