Artificial intelligence in the Turkish healthcare system and its future prospects

Rapidly advancing industrial technology on a global scale has become one of the fundamental factors shaping the direction of digital transformation experienced by societies. With the emergence of the Industry 4.0 paradigm, the widespread adoption of intelligent systems has enhanced the quality of existing technologies and paved the way for radical innovations, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The increase in data generation enabled by digitalization processes has facilitated the extensive use of AI across various sectors, most notably healthcare. The application of artificial intelligence in healthcare services has been expanding steadily, leading to significant transformations in areas ranging from the support of clinical diagnostic processes to the organization of care services and the optimization of administrative operations. Medical imaging analysis, early diagnosis, drug development, personalized treatment approaches, telehealth applications, remote monitoring systems, and clinical decision support mechanisms constitute the core components of this transformation. This study examines technological developments in the healthcare sector from past to present and analyzes how artificial intelligence may shape the future of Turkey's healthcare system. Turkey's existing capacity, the digitalization process in healthcare services, and the strategic steps that need to be taken in the near future are evaluated from a holistic perspective. Despite the technical opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, issues such as data security, patient privacy, and ethical governance continue to be widely debated in the healthcare sector. Therefore, policies and regulations aimed at integrating AI applications into the healthcare system must be updated concurrently with technological advancements. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Telemedicine, Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence Ethics, Smart Healthcare Services