Türkiye's Health Diplomacy Activities: A Qualitative Research

Abstract

Health diplomacy is a field that facilitates the implementation and governance of global health policies. Assisting, such as transferring expertise, experience, and human and medical equipment to different countries, constitutes the content of health diplomacy. The main argument of this study is that Türkiye provides official development assistance abroad, establishes and operates health enterprises, and provides medical rescue and emergency health services in disasters and emergencies. For this reason, it has been tried to reveal Türkiye's perception of health diplomacy, how the health service process is carried out across the border, and the possible contributions of these services. A case study design was used to examine Türkiye's health diplomacy process. In this context, interviews were conducted with the public (n=1) and non-governmental organization personnel (n=8). The research findings were evaluated within the framework of four main themes: perception of health diplomacy, difficulties experienced in the health diplomacy process, solutions to the difficulties encountered in the health diplomacy process, and contributions of health diplomacy. The perception of health diplomacy is fieldwork, experience transfer, support, joint action, foreign policy, soft power, and health priority. In the process of health service delivery, it has been determined that there are difficulties in terms of medical equipment, service delivery, personnel, and politics, and these difficulties are tried to be solved through cooperation, communication, and other means. It has been concluded that health diplomacy contributes to the health of the recipient country or region and supports employment with newly opened health institutions. In addition, it was determined that Turkish health personnel gained experience, sympathy for Türkiye developed, and prejudices were broken.