Minister Memişoğlu: We prioritized first-degree relatives of organ donors in need of organs.

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu visited the Governor's Office in Afyonkarahisar, where he came to participate in a series of visits and programs.

Memişoğlu, who received information about the work in the city from Governor Kübra Güran Yiğitbaşı, said in a statement after the visit that they will evaluate the health services and investments there.

Memişoğlu, noting that Afyonkarahisar has made significant progress in healthcare services over the past 20 years, said, "We are continuing our investments. We will open our Emirdağ Hospital to our people, hopefully, at the beginning of 2026. Construction on our Bolvadin Hospital has been slow, but we will quickly begin it and open it to the public by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027. We will also open our oral and dental health center to our people very soon, hopefully."

Memişoğlu reminded the public that appointments for Healthy Life Centers are made through the Central Physician Appointment System (MHRS), saying, "We value Healthy Life Centers. We want people to benefit from these centers when they need a dietitian, psychologist, or physiotherapist, as well as learning sports and exercise, dental care, and cancer screenings. They are very close to our homes and residential areas. Furthermore, these are areas where they can receive these services free of charge. Therefore, we consider these centers to be important elements of preventive health. Now, people can visit these centers whenever they want, thanks to the appointment system."

Reminding that this month is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Memişoğlu said:

I want to emphasize that Türkiye, unfortunately, ranks among the top three countries worldwide for lung cancer. The biggest cause is tobacco use. We need to raise public awareness about this issue and collectively work to quit smoking. To this end, we are reaching out to our people with our mobile trucks and vehicles. We expect those who see us, especially those who have quit smoking, to show the same determination, along with our teams, and to quit smoking to stay healthy.

Memişoğlu stated that he donated his organs two days ago and continued as follows:

I donated my organs in 1997, while I was in the military. Now, anyone can donate their organs electronically through e-Pulse and e-Government. Donating organs essentially allows you to give life to someone even after death, even after the end of your life, and you can do a good deed. In this regard, we are a country with the world's best infrastructure, manpower, and 149 centers that set an example for transplantation. We perform most of these transplants from living donors. In other words, we take half of the liver and one of the kidneys from a living donor. Please, please, let our people donate their organs. This principle has a great justification, a great source of goodness and happiness. We expect our people to donate their organs, especially through e-Government. As you know, we have prioritized first-degree relatives of our organ donors, especially if they need an organ, other than in urgent cases. We have also prioritized our appointment system for those waiting for organs or undergoing transplants. From now on, we will provide positive discrimination to them in this regard.

Minister Memişoğlu was accompanied by AK Party Deputy Chair Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal, AK Party Afyonkarahisar deputies İbrahim Yurdunuseven, Ali Özkaya, Hasan Arslan, and MHP Afyonkarahisar deputy Mehmet Taytak.