Turkey opens Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital

By Fahri Aksut and Davut Demircan

ANKARA (AA) – The addition of new city hospitals helps make the Turkish metropolis Istanbul into an international healthcare hub, said Turkey’s president Thursday, cutting the ribbon on the Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital.

Speaking at the inauguration of the hospital, a project of Turkey’s Ronesans Healthcare and the Japan-based Sojitz Corporation, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that it adds to the deep-rooted and multidimensional Turkish-Japanese friendship.

Touting the brand-new facility, Erdogan called it “one of the proud monuments of Istanbul not only in terms of aesthetics, but also with its technological infrastructure, associated buildings, location, facilities and other features."

Such hospitals put Istanbul on the international map in terms of health care, he added.

Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe also joined the hospital inauguration ceremony via video link.

Japan's Prime Minister Abe wished well to Turkish people, said new hospital's name 'Cam' symbolizes health and Japanese cherry blossom 'Sakura'.