T3 Podcast | Dr. Şuayıp Birinci – Digital Transformation in Health: The Life Industry

In this article, we examine the fourth episode of the third season of the T3 Podcast, featuring Dr. Şuayıp Birinci, exploring the key themes and important insights of Türkiye’s digital transformation in its healthcare system. Dr. Birinci describes this transformation as the "Industry of Living".

Culture of Management through Information and Efficiency

Dr. Şuayıp Birinci began his journey in health informatics by addressing inefficiencies in hospital information systems. Through his leadership, he established a culture of "management through information" in hospital administration. As a result, hospital capacities were increased by up to 20 percent without additional resources. Birinci notes that those who benefited from existing system flaws were often the most resistant to change, and emphasizes that digital transformation is critical to overcoming such barriers.

Key Digital Applications: e-Nabız and HES

The most concrete examples of digital transformation in Türkiye’s healthcare system are the e-Nabız and Hayat Eve Sığar (HES) applications.

• e-Nabız: Launched in 2009, e-Nabız empowers patients to access their own health data, enhancing health literacy, enabling physicians to develop better treatment plans, and allowing administrators to manage healthcare services more efficiently. Today, this platform, used by 82 percent of Türkiye’s population, digitally stores all health records from hospital data to laboratory results.
• HES Application: Particularly vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, HES became an essential tool for contact tracing, risk analysis, and resource management. It demonstrated the strength of Türkiye’s digital infrastructure during the crisis.

The Future of Healthcare and Innovation

Türkiye’s digital healthcare infrastructure is taking significant steps toward the future:

• Data Standardization: Türkiye has the potential to become a global leader in health data standardization.
• Artificial Intelligence: AI-assisted diagnostics, such as in mammography screening, are supporting physicians. In the future, personalized diet and exercise programs and virtual medical assistants are expected to become widespread.
• Digital Lifecycle Tracking from Birth to Death: Türkiye is among the few countries capable of digitally tracking an individual’s entire life cycle, starting from pregnancy. This capability facilitates the planning of healthcare services and the efficient allocation of resources.

The Earthquake Test and International Confidence

The earthquakes of February 6 demonstrated the strength of Türkiye’s digital healthcare infrastructure. Nearly 52,000 patients were evacuated and treated seamlessly across affected regions thanks to this system. This success was praised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and significantly enhanced global confidence in Türkiye’s healthcare professionals.

In conclusion, Dr. Şuayıp Birinci emphasizes that Türkiye’s digital transformation in healthcare is not merely a technical advancement but a deliberate effort to build an "Industry of Living" grounded in a human-centered approach, thereby establishing Türkiye as a significant source of "soft power" on the international stage.