The Central Naval Hospital from the late Ottoman Era to the Republic of Turkey

The main aim of this thesis study is examining modernization in the healthcare institutions connected with the Bahriye (Naval) Organization based on the example of the Central Naval Hospital, during the modernization process of the Ottoman State. The Central Naval Hospital is important in shedding light on the process from the simple, conventional healthcare facilities opened within the structure of the naval shipyard where emergency surgeries were carried out, that were later developed into more complicated healthcare institutions where modern medicine was implemented. The choice of this topic was because it represented the first example of a naval military hospital; there were no detailed studies conducted previously, and for the purpose of eliminating contradictory information regarding the establishment of the hospital. As a result of this thesis study, it reveals the military hospital's contributions in the development of healthcare during the Ottoman period and also sheds light on matters concerning the organization of naval hospitals with the establishment of healthcare institutions connected with the Bahriye Organization. Another point addressed concerning the modernization of healthcare was the issue of training military physicians. In parallel with modernization in healthcare institutions, the traditional method of training physicians was abolished and modern medical schools were opened. Military hospitals and medical schools contributed significantly to the progress of civilian hospitals and civilian physicians. Research on the activities of the Central Naval Hospital that began to operate during the modernization era constitutes an important example in revealing these processes and understanding the negative impact in the field of healthcare due to the political turmoil the state experienced during the institutionalization process. Key Words: Bahriye Organization, Hospital, Healthcare, Central Naval Hospital, Kasımpaşa Naval Hospital