Minister Kacır: AnkaTheraHub will host groundbreaking initiatives

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır made important statements at the opening of the Ankara Innovative Diagnostic and Therapeutic Products Development Center (AnkaTheraHub). He emphasized that the center will significantly contribute to Turkey's R&D and innovation capacity in health technologies. The opening event was held under the Competitive Sectors Program and attended by Minister Kacır.

In his speech, Kacır touched upon the historical development of healthcare. He explained how humanity's search for healing has transformed through scientific knowledge and technological advancements. He noted that especially in the last two centuries, technology has been placed at the service of medicine, making healthcare a mass service. He stated that inventions such as vaccines, antibiotics, and imaging technologies have defeated diseases one by one.

Kacır highlighted improvements in global health indicators, recalling that at the beginning of the 19th century, average life expectancy did not exceed 40 years anywhere in the world, and one in four babies died before their first birthday. Today, global life expectancy has reached 73 years, and the infant mortality rate has dropped to 25 per 1,000 live births. He attributed this success to the application of science and technology for the benefit of humanity.

Referring to the Human Genome Project, Kacır noted that this historic study, completed in 13 years at a cost of $2.7 billion, enabled the sequencing of human DNA. Today, thanks to next-generation sequencing technologies, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, we can access our genetic map for under $1,000 and in as little as one day. These developments pave the way for predictive and personalized medicine, especially for conditions like cancer, hereditary diseases, and rare genetic disorders.

Kacır also discussed Turkey's progress in healthcare infrastructure. Over the past 23 years, under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Turkey has built a strong R&D and innovation ecosystem, including city hospitals, family health centers, and digital health applications. During the pandemic, Turkey distinguished itself positively with its healthcare infrastructure and production capacity. He cited examples such as the domestic ventilator produced in just 14 days and the successful first clinical surgery using ASELSAN's domestic heart-lung machine. He also announced that 161 investment incentive certificates were issued in the health industry, mobilizing 70 billion lira in investment and creating over 5,000 qualified jobs.