Turkey calls for global health services for migrants

By Ecenur Colak

ROME

The Turkish deputy health minister said on Wednesday that it was necessary to establish adequate health services for all disadvantaged groups, especially migrants.

"Turkey considers migration as a social value, not a threat," Emine Alp Mese told Anadolu Agency in Rome where she attended the 68th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Europe.

"It is our main duty that all disadvantaged groups, especially migrants, receive adequate quality, accessible health services. We need to create decent health service standards applicable all over the world," Mese said.

Following her speech during the meeting, Mese said she underlined Turkey's worldwide exemplary health service for Syrian refugees.

"Health services provided for migrants are not a burden but a humanitarian responsibility," she said.

"We will highlight the main issues related to our services which we have been providing for Syrian refugees and accepted as 'a model' by the WHO," she added.