From traditional to modern health services in the Ottoman Empire

In the traditional period, the Ottoman Empire met many needs of the people through foundations, on the other hand, it took an active role in the control of the services provided to the public. The health services provided in the traditional period were given together with the health personnel organized as tradesmen and the health personnel in the darüşşifa established as a foundation. Examinations, appointments, inspections and dismissals were among the duties of the chief physician, who was elected by the Sultan and represented the highest authority in the health system in the country. Although physicians who graduated from medical madrasah began to grow in time, medical education on the basis of master-apprentice continued. However, increasing epidemics for various reasons, incompetent physicians and other health personnel caused the medical education and health services provided to become inadequate after a while. The deficiencies in medical education and health services were first noticed by conscious physicians, and then this awareness spread to government officials. III. The innovations that were started during the reign of Selim (1789-1808) and remained unfinished, II. It was continued during the reign of Mahmut (1808-1839). Change and transformation in this area covered a long process; In this process, the concept of preventive health services emerged. In the thesis titled Health Services in the Ottoman Empire from Traditional to Modernity, first of all, the curative and preventive health services provided by the Ottoman Empire in the traditional period will be examined. Then, the newly established medical schools and hospitals in the modernization period of the Ottoman Empire and the steps taken against the epidemic diseases of the period will be discussed. During this period, the regulations issued and implemented regarding public health will be shared.