The 7th International Congress on Health Sciences and Management, hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi, is being held with the main theme of “Digital Health, Personalized Medicine”. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who delivered the opening speech of the congress featuring expert speakers from various countries, emphasized the importance of personalized information in enhancing the quality of healthcare services. Stating that group intelligence, not individual intelligence, is needed for the emergence of a field where genetic information and digitalization coexist, Tarhan added that those who fail to work as a team will fall behind in the race. Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, Istanbul Provincial Health Director, noted Turkey's proven success in health tourism and added that those who can manage health will be able to manage the world.
The 7th International Congress on Health Sciences and Management, supported by Üsküdar Üniversitesi, the International Strategic Health Research Center Association (USSAM), and the Health Management departments of Karadeniz Technical University, Süleyman Demirel University, Sakarya University, Selçuk University, Kırıkkale University, Ahi Evran University, and Health Sciences University, is being held with the main theme of “Digital Health, Personalized Medicine”.
Istanbul Provincial Health Director Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu also attended the opening ceremony of the congress held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Main Campus' Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. The congress, hosted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi, will be held over four days with both digital and in-person sessions.
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu: “Turkey became an example to the world with its digital health initiatives”
Istanbul Provincial Health Director Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, in his opening speech, emphasized that the development and preparedness of healthcare services in Turkey, especially over the last 20 years, bore fruit during the Covid pandemic, stating, “There are great contributors to the development in health. No one and no society has a chance to succeed without being prepared for something, without working for something. We must first know this. If our health system has become an example to the world during the Covid pandemic today, this is the result of a long-term effort and much hard work. It is not something that happened overnight. When we talk about digital health, Turkey has implemented a system that has become an example to the world with its excellent work. If we can manage any health service and data in a country of 85 million people, in a city of 17 million, today, this is the result of great efforts.”
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu: “Turkey proved its success in health tourism”
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu said, “We are talking about a country that translated diagnostic methods into Turkish and adapted them to its electronic system in 2004, started keeping records in its hospitals electronically, linked this with quality in 2007, and was able to keep all its data within a health portal in 2014.” He continued:
“Today, some developed countries have just started to consider what we have done. These achievements were realized through the efforts of our esteemed professors who are part of today's congress and who know the intricacies of this work. Turkey's success in healthcare has been supported and appreciated by the international public. As a very simple example of this, we currently prove it by seeing that many people from highly developed countries come to our country for health tourism to receive healthcare services. Our country has gained a great advantage in healthcare, but this advantage has not yet reached its full potential.”
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu: “Those who can manage health well, might also be able to manage the world”
Memişoğlu, stating that the theme of the 7th International Congress on Health Sciences and Management shows what needs to be done, said, “Covid has shown most countries in the world that those who can manage the future development process related to health well might also be able to manage the world. The biggest concern for those who say 'How can we govern the world?' will be to try to find out how to manage health. Turkey might have missed the industrial and technological revolutions, but no one should forget that there will be a health revolution in the future. We are still at the very beginning regarding health management. Digitalization in health is essential to manage such diverse populations.”
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu: “We must produce artificial intellect…”
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, stating that the future is preparing for a major change related to health, said, “If we, as a country, as individuals, as healthcare managers, and as health scientists, see this change and align our position and vision accordingly, this country, instead of chasing after some major revolutions it missed in the past, such as the industrial revolution, will lead people, societies, and countries if it catches this health-related revolution. We have already made preparations for this. We need to ensure that future generations also see this. Today, we are one of the best countries in the world in healthcare services. Everyone needs to know that we have a long way to go in producing health science and technology. I believe the terminology 'artificial intelligence' is incorrect. We must produce artificial intellect. Our experience in human resources and human management, as well as our data, is the world's most homogeneous and clean data. If we can use and manage these well, extract them from raw material, turn them into usable technological arguments, and organize well, we can experience one of the revolutionary changes that will occur in the future.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Not individual, but group intelligence is needed.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan began his speech by stating that the congress's theme selection was very accurate and visionary, saying, “The world is heading towards improving the quality of healthcare services. In improving the quality of healthcare services, the personalization of information is also important. For a field where genetic information and digitalization coexist to emerge, group intelligence, not individual intelligences, is needed. Group intelligence is achieved through team leadership and management. Those who fail to be a team will fall behind in this race. This is very important. Being a team also allows for the efficient use of resources. Resource utilization is important in all fields, as it is in healthcare. Being able to correctly scale up resources while expanding them is a separate branch of science.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “We established a pharmacogenetics laboratory in the field of psychiatry in 2009”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated in his opening speech that personalized medicine has a sub-branch, which is personalized treatment. He said, “We established the first pharmacogenetics laboratory in Turkey in the field of psychiatry in 2009. It is used in oncology, but we actively use it in neuropsychiatry. In the pharmacogenetics laboratory, there is early diagnosis of genetic polymorphism. In that early diagnosis, we perform phenotype monitoring according to drug blood levels. The drugs being used are instantly monitored to see whether liver enzymes in the body are processing them or not. On the other hand, there is also pharmacodynamic monitoring. We perform pharmacokinetic monitoring with blood levels, and in pharmacodynamic monitoring, we check whether the drugs elicit a response in the brain. For every patient who is resistant to treatment, we create a pharmacogenetic profile.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Those who can manage digital assets also manage the world”
Stating that they received a patent in 2021 for a digital health model named NP model, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “In the model we use at the hospital, we perform medical recording. We wrote an algorithm that records brain signals, and thus we record brain signals. We initiated a scientific research project related to artificial intelligence. Last year, we presented this project under the name of computational psychiatry to over 10,000 members worldwide who attended the American Psychiatric Association's congress. When we entered the digital world, it was previously said that data was everything. Data is not everything; in fact, everything is data. Even a kept pen is data. We are in a digital-based universe. The philosophy of a matter-based universe has changed. The explanation of material philosophy is not satisfying. There was talk of an energy-based universe, and now there is talk of a digital-based universe. Digital assets are very important. Those who can manage digital assets also manage the world.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Many countries in the world took Turkey's Covid-19 struggle as a reference”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan concluded his remarks by drawing attention to the statement at the 2018 Davos Summit that mind control could be achieved: “The digital world, artificial intelligence, and finally the phenomena of the Metaverse have emerged. Behind these lies rapid digitalization. Those who grasp digitalization will grasp the future. The world is seriously moving towards digital control. In such a situation, we must be the subject, not the object, of digitalization. We will certainly have our own digital platforms. The Ministry of Health achieved this in a way that would set an example for the world. Covid-19 was a serious crisis, but we managed to control it by digitalizing early. Those who are prepared for a crisis and have a risk plan against it can manage the crisis well. The HES code application was a wonderful initiative, and many countries in the world took Turkey as a reference in that regard. This is also a success of health management.”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka: “Efficient use of resources allocated to the health sector is important”
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, Acting Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, emphasized the importance of how resources should be used in health management. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka said, “In terms of seeking an answer to the question of how resources should be used most efficiently and effectively economically, which all countries focus on, the ways to use the resources allocated to the health sector most efficiently and effectively will be possible with the increase of such activities and the increase of training in this field. To the extent we can achieve this, it is known that the better health is, the more positive its long-term reflection on economic life, in particular. Along with economic growth, the share allocated to health expenditures also increases, virtually supporting each other. The increase in health expenditures boosts growth, increases production, improves quality. It increases Gross Domestic Product and, of course, is effective in increasing the welfare of society.”
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur: “Our duty is to train managers in health management”
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine and Co-Chair of the Congress, expressed his satisfaction at hosting an important congress for the second time in his opening speech. Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur noted that significant work has been carried out for many years in our country in the field of health management under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, stating that provincial health directorates have transferred master-apprentice health management practices as a real school, and important academic units were established, especially after the 90s. Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur noted that their duty henceforth is to train stronger managers, saying, “These congresses are of infinite importance to pass on this historical legacy entrusted to us to our children and grandchildren.”
Prof. Dr. Sedat Bostan thanked Üsküdar Üniversitesi
Prof. Dr. Sedat Bostan from Karadeniz Technical University, one of the co-chairs of the congress, noted that they held the first international congress at Gümüşhane University in 2015, with participants from approximately 15 countries. Prof. Dr. Sedat Bostan stated that they received very significant support from health management departments throughout this journey and thanked Üsküdar Üniversitesi for its support.
Prof. Dr. Akif Cinel: “We made a difference in health management during the pandemic”
Prof. Dr. Akif Cinel, Vice-Rector of Karadeniz Technical University, also stated in his speech at the opening ceremony, which he attended via online connection, that healthcare services, requiring intense effort and selfless work, are a very important service. Prof. Dr. Akif Cinel said, “In the pandemic experienced over the last 2.5 years, our country made a significant difference to many developed countries in the field of health management. The organization of intensive care units and wards, and the formation of contact tracing teams created a source of pride for us despite the suffering we experienced during that period.”
The opening ceremony of the congress concluded after plaques and certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants, followed by a photo session. The opening ceremony was broadcast live on Üsküdar Üniversitesi Television (ÜÜ TV) and Üsküdar Üniversitesi's official YouTube account.
Following the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kaya from Ordu Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine presented on “Medicine from Classical to Digital and its Future,” where he discussed the history of medical science in the world and Islamic civilization, starting from the periods of Egypt, Ancient Greece – Rome.
The Congress will continue for four days
During the four-day congress, panels titled “Humanitarian Sensitivity in Healthcare Services,” “Health Economics,” “The New Position of Private Healthcare Services After the Pandemic,” “Book Authorship and Editorship in Health Management,” “Multidisciplinary Approach to Digital Health and Personalized Medicine,” “Health Tourism,” and “Cancer Research with Innovative Technologies” will be held.