The 9th Health Summit, organized annually by the Private Hospitals Platform, was held in an interactive environment on the ExpoNext Online Platform with the theme 'Pandemic and Sustainable Health.' The Summit, which opened with the participation of Minister of Health Dr. Fahrettin Koca, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, and Social Security Institution President İsmail Yılmaz, also featured Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan as a speaker. In his speech, Tarhan drew attention to what the pandemic has gained and lost for humanity, emphasizing that the pandemic gave us the opportunity to rebuild the human and universal values we had abandoned.
Within the scope of the organized Summit, the panel titled 'Pandemic and Service Delivery Management in the Private Healthcare System' was moderated by Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Emine Alp Meşe. Prof. Dr. Tarhan delivered his speech titled 'A Psychosocial Perspective on the Coronavirus Pandemic' at the panel. Tarhan emphasized the importance of social cooperation rather than social isolation in combating the pandemic.
'The pandemic presented us with five risks and three opportunities'
Drawing attention to the fact that the Coronavirus pandemic presented humanity with five risks and three opportunities, Tarhan stated: 'While the pandemic disrupted five characteristics of humanity, it also brought three things to humanity. The pandemic negatively affected our psychological well-being, our freedom, our physical comfort, and our social relationships. We felt that death was near. But at the same time, it gave us three gifts: free time, training in psychological resilience and endurance, and the opportunity to rebuild the human and universal values we had abandoned.' He spoke.
'We can combat the coronavirus pandemic through social cooperation'
Addressing the psychological solutions to the Coronavirus pandemic, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said: 'Firstly, society should be enlightened with the rules of crisis management. Uncertainty should be eliminated, openness and transparency should be maintained, and decision-makers should not see criticism as a threat. Secondly, when experts speak, especially those with medical backgrounds, they always accustomed themselves to thinking evidence-based, so they cannot give hope to people. People need some hope. Thirdly, there is a saying in the COVID-19 report that documented China's experience: 'The pandemic is defeated not by social isolation but by social cooperation.' This also means 'Let's open social distance but narrow psychological distance.' Social cooperation should primarily be carried out within the family. Not only psychology professionals but everyone should spread two concepts in their homes, workplaces, and social circles. These two values are 'Compassion and Courtesy.' Everyone should be careful not to hurt each other, paying attention to how they say something as much as what they say. Our freedom has been restricted, but our humanity has not. We can activate our mental flexibility and develop new alternatives.' He used these expressions.
'The Coronavirus offered humanity many opportunities'
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that while the Coronavirus Pandemic is considered a danger by everyone, it also brought many opportunities for humanity, listing these opportunities as follows: 'A global situation like the Coronavirus restricted our freedom, but as a result, our resilience skills increased. We did not exercise some of our rights, but we noticed people other than ourselves, and our empathy developed. We were forced to stay at home, and as a result of the home being appealing, we gained family values and learned to manage economic risks.' He said.