Health policy management and reforms in the European Union and Turkey

Health Policy Management and Reforms in the European Union and TurkeyToday's one of most important economic power European Union (EU) continues to activities on health and health policies. Health is one of the area that countries need to adapt and directly or indirectly affected with the process of the candidate, negotiation and participation.Turkey began to accession negotiations in October 2005. One of the main problems for the accession period between EU and Turkey is the harmonization practices in the field of health. Turkey has launched the harmonization practices in line with the commitments stated under the chapters related to health in the Turkish National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis. This study is done in order to make a contribution to the where Turkey is about harmony of health, examining the health-releated European policies.So far, Turkey mainly focused on legislative alignment to the EU harmonization in studies in the health field. Studies are good level at the implementation of the legislation. Health and health-related indicators in comparison with EU member states, it can be determinated that "Turkey is not ready to become a member of the EU in a short and medium term yet". However, we can think optimistic by looking the difference in the observed improvements at the health field in recent years than in past years. The correction of the state of public health, reducing inequalities in access to health services, improving accessibility and quality of services and more emphasis on preventive health services in line with the level of access to health care in EU member states play an important role in overcoming the problems.Key Words: European Union, Health Policies, Health Transformation Program