(MENAFN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday received the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe Award in recognition of Türkiye’s humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and its role in facilitating medical evacuations from Gaza. The award was presented by WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge during the 11th Turkish Medical World Congress in Ankara.

Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan criticized the international community’s silence over the destruction of hospitals and the killing of patients, health workers, and infants in Gaza over the past two years. He said the world would only become “a paradise” when humanity values the saving of lives and celebrates every newborn’s safe arrival.

Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s health system overhaul over the past 23 years, now serving 86 million people with more than 1.47 million health personnel. He noted that the workforce has grown by 288% since 2002, with nearly 100,000 new staff, including over 57,000 doctors, recruited in the past year and a half. Public hospital capacity has been significantly expanded, with 794 new hospitals raising bed capacity to 173,000 and qualified beds increasing from 7,000 in 2002 to 122,000 today.

He also stressed ongoing reconstruction in earthquake-hit provinces, scientific research, and growth in pharmaceuticals and medical device production, expressing confidence that Türkiye will achieve in health technology what it has accomplished in the defense sector.

Turkish Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said on social media that the award reflects Türkiye’s humanitarian diplomacy and Erdogan’s personal leadership in continuing aid to Gaza, ensuring safe medical evacuations, and advocating for the oppressed.

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