In Istanbul, 252,000 people received cancer screening in family medicine clinics in 8 months.

Making assessments within the scope of Public Health Week, celebrated every year from September 3-9, Güner said that Türkiye has been providing health services that set an example for the world with the "Health Transformation Project" launched in 2002 under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Güner, noting that Türkiye stands out in its treatment services, said, "In this system, which we describe as 'Istanbul, the world's health capital,' nearly 500,000 people from 201 countries have chosen to receive healthcare services in Istanbul. That's why we call it the 'world's health capital.' Protecting the health of the 16 million people living in Istanbul is our main priority."

Güner noted that they are working to provide services within the framework of the developing and productive health model with the Vision of a Healthy Türkiye Century under the leadership of Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu.

25 million of the 84 million consultations were performed in family medicine clinics

Güner emphasized that their primary goal is to promote healthy living, prevent illnesses, and prevent major health problems that could burden society and the economy through preventive medicine. He added, "With the family medicine department, which began operating in Istanbul in 2010, we are actually monitoring the health of every citizen throughout Istanbul, before they even know it, without their knowledge."

Güner stated that the 1,100th family health center was opened in Istanbul last week and that the 1,101st center will be put into service this week, adding that 4,900 family physicians provide health services in the city.

Güner, who stated that people can consult family physicians, whom he describes as "health advocates," in times of illness and health, pointed out that 25 million of the 84 million consultations conducted in Istanbul since the beginning of the year were carried out in family physicians.

Cancer screenings

Güner explained that cancer screenings are also conducted in family physicians and wellness centers, and that early diagnosis and follow-up are particularly important for cervical, colon, and breast cancers.

Since the first day of 2025, we have conducted 252,569 cancer screenings. In the last two years, there are 522 patients diagnosed with cancer who either consulted their family physician or underwent screening at the recommendation of their physician. These patients were diagnosed early. Istanbul has a special program for this. If you have had your screening done by your family physician, and if you are at risk, your appointment for advanced diagnosis—that is, at our training and research hospital or city hospitals—is made by our staff, whom we call life coaches and health coaches, established at the cancer and screening center. In other words, they call you and ask, 'Where are you, where do you live, when can you go?' They make the most suitable appointment independently of the MHRS system. With this, we are currently helping 522 people hold on to life.

Vaccination, heel prick and autism screening programs

Güner stated that in family medicine, preventive health services are started from the moment children are born and their health is monitored until the end of their lives.

Güner, reporting that 2,421,000 doses of childhood vaccines against 13 diseases were administered in Istanbul in eight months, emphasized that over 95% vaccination coverage has been achieved in Türkiye and that this system is being implemented very successfully.

Güner, noting that five genetic diseases were detected through heel prick blood samples taken from newborns, said, "We have screened the heel prick blood of 75,000 children since the beginning of the year, using samples taken immediately after birth and at the 48th hour, meaning the second day. This is done for every newborn, and hereditary diseases were detected in 291 babies. These are children with irreversible mental retardation and developmental delays that can occur without early diagnosis. God willing, these children will continue their lives beautifully, just like their friends."

Güner stated that as part of the autism screening program, 3,764 of the 94,492 children were found to be at risk this year, and that these children, along with their families, were provided support during their treatment and rehabilitation processes.

SMA screening, support for combating addiction and obesity

Underlining that they plan to prevent diseases before birth, Güner stated that risk was detected in 27,605 of the 413,300 samples taken from couples who applied for premarital SMA screening since 2021.

Provincial Health Director Güner added that they provide preventive health services at Healthy Living Centers as part of the fight against addiction and obesity.