GSK Turkey Holds Healthcare Systems Workshop

GSK Turkey Health Systems Workshop Held GSK Turkey organized a Health Systems Workshop with the participation of Prof. Dr. Rıfat Atun, Director of Global Health Systems at Harvard University, bringing together representatives from major Turkish institutions in health and technology. The workshop, which focused on COPD and asthma diseases, addressed innovative approaches and digital health solutions for better health outcomes. GSK Turkey held a Health Systems Workshop at Wyndham Grand Istanbul Levent between 30 June-1 July with participation from various stakeholders in the health sector. The workshop, which focused on COPD and asthma diseases, discussed the current state of the Turkish health system and the transformation of health systems through digitalization. During the workshop, a performance assessment of Turkey's health system was conducted, while the increasing burden of COPD and asthma on individuals and health economics following the pandemic was also addressed. Over the two-day workshop, exchanges of ideas on future health solutions led to the conclusion that artificial intelligence and digital solutions could be used more effectively in these areas. In assessments made within the scope of the workshop, emphasis was placed on Turkey not being at the desired level among other OECD countries in terms of health system performance, while discussion focused on how to achieve better health outcomes in all chronic diseases, starting from asthma and COPD. Prof. Dr. Rıfat Atun, Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and Director of Harvard University's Health Systems Innovation Laboratory, participated as guest of honor at the workshop hosted by GSK Turkey and moderated the panel and keynote presentation held during the event. In the digital health ecosystem panel moderated by Atun, Evren Bükülmez, General Secretary Advisor of Turkey Technology Development Foundation, Selin Arslanhan, Founder of RedIS Innovation, Serdar Gemici, Co-Founder and CEO of Albert Health, Ali Üstün, Manager at McKinsey & Company / Life Sciences, and Jülide Karagöz, Strategist at Turkey Artificial Intelligence Initiative, served as panelists. Additionally, Zehra Çataltepe, Founder of Tazı, participated as a keynote speaker at the workshop, discussing global trends in digital health and patient-centered solutions for chronic disease management. Prof. Dr. Rıfat Atun, expressing great pleasure at being invited to the workshop, stated: "The disease burden of asthma and COPD, which brings with it a significant economic burden, ranks third among all diseases in Turkey in terms of mortality and morbidity. The workshop and panel I facilitated over two days were quite valuable both for developing transformational solutions for better health outcomes in these two diseases that are of great importance to public health in Turkey and for improving the health system in the country. I thank everyone who contributed to this workshop." GSK Turkey General Manager Selim Giray, noting that they could support entrepreneurs emerging from Turkey in the health field in future periods with an innovative approach, stated: "As GSK Turkey, our highest priority is to bring together all relevant stakeholders in the therapeutic areas where we operate, develop innovative solutions and benefit public health. In this direction, events such as this one we have held are quite valuable for identifying problems, bringing forward transformational solution proposals, building coalitions and planning actions that will bring about change with a holistic approach. I would like to thank, in particular, our highly esteemed scientist Prof. Dr. Rıfat Atun for his valuable participation and for moderating our panels. We hope that our workshop will lead to important collaborations for the Turkish health sector, and as GSK Turkey, we want to say that we are always ready to support entrepreneurs in this field." he said.