In Turkey and the TRNC, March 14th is celebrated as National Medicine Day

In Northern Cyprus, as well as in the Turkish Republic, March 14th is celebrated as National Medicine Day. President of the TRNC, Ersin Tatar, congratulated doctors and all healthcare workers on their professional holiday.

"On Doctor's Day, March 14th, we once again emphasize the significance of our doctors and healthcare workers who tirelessly work day and night for the health and lives of people, and when necessary, risk their lives working in disaster areas," said the head of Northern Cyprus.

The leader of the Turkish Cypriots reminded that the goal of medicine is to provide people with a healthy and happy life, improving its quality.

"We are proud that Turkish doctors, healthcare workers, and other medical professionals in our country contribute, and sometimes lead developments and various inventions that guide medical science," noted the head of state.

The President also emphasized that the state is responsible for improving the working conditions of healthcare workers, as well as providing the necessary means to strengthen infrastructure.

"We all wish for healthcare services and healthcare workers' satisfaction to grow, and for healthcare workers' rights to be continuously respected. Health is our greatest wealth. We must work to address the shortcomings of our healthcare system and provide services to our people that will serve as an example to the world in healthcare," concluded Ersin Tatar.

It is worth noting that medical workers were congratulated on their professional holiday by the country's Prime Minister Yunal Yustel, Ministers of Health and Finance, as well as the heads of specialized institutions and leaders of leading political parties.

National Medicine Day (Tıp bayramı) is celebrated annually in Turkey on March 14th. On this day in 1827, the first medical school was opened in the Ottoman Empire.

In 1919, in occupied Istanbul by the Entente forces, medical students celebrated the founding day of their medical school as a symbol of innovations introduced during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II.

In connection with these events, March 14th was declared Medicine Day in Turkey.