Event highlights
A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health of Türkiye visited Ireland on 10–11 June 2026 as part of an exchange visit, organized by WHO and the General Directorate of EU and Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Health of Türkiye and supported by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, to strengthen collaboration and advance comprehensive tobacco control policies.
The visit brought together senior leaders and technical experts from Türkiye and Ireland, alongside representatives from WHO headquarters, WHO/Europe and the WHO Country Office in Türkiye. The initiative provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss current priorities and challenges and identify practical approaches to further strengthen tobacco control efforts.
Exchanging experiences and strengthening implementation
The Turkish delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Health and Associate Professor Şuayip Birinci, included Dr Aziz Alper Biten, Director General for EU and Foreign Affairs at Türkiye’s Ministry of Health; Dr Hamit Harun Bağcı, Deputy Director General for Public Health; Burcu Miraç Diraoraydın, Advisor to the Deputy President; Yusuf Irmak, Head of the Department of International Organizations and Asia; Dr Hüseyin Alperen Güldiken, Head of the Department for Tobacco and Substance Addiction; and Dr Melek Aktaş, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Health.
The delegation met with Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Minister of State at the Department of Health, Ireland, to discuss opportunities for strengthening tobacco control policies and protecting future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine products.
Throughout the visit, participants exchanged views on the current tobacco control landscape, recent developments, strategic priorities and implementation challenges. Discussions focused on the enforcement of smoke-free legislation, comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS), and measures to protect children and young people from exposure and access to tobacco and nicotine products.
The Turkish and Irish participants exchanged experiences on the implementation of tobacco taxation policies and tobacco cessation services, including approaches to increasing demand for cessation support. Meetings with representatives from Ireland’s National Environmental Health Service provided an opportunity for mutual learning and discussion on compliance monitoring, inspection systems and enforcement mechanisms that support effective implementation of tobacco control legislation.
The exchange visit highlighted the value of sharing experiences and practical approaches to support national implementation efforts and strengthen tobacco control policies.
Commitment to tobacco control
The exchange visit provided an opportunity for both countries to reflect on their achievements and identify areas for continued technical cooperation. Türkiye and Ireland have both made significant progress in implementing measures aligned with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
Türkiye was the first country in the world to fully implement all MPOWER measures –Monitor tobacco use, Protect the general population, Offer support, Warn the public about the dangers, Enforce comprehensive bans on all forms of tobacco and Raise taxes on tobacco products – WHO’s package of evidence-based interventions designed to reduce tobacco demand. The country continues to advance its tobacco control agenda, including measures aimed at protecting young people from tobacco and nicotine products. Tobacco control efforts in Türkiye encompass prevention, health promotion, cessation services and measures to protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke and nicotine products.
The WHO Country Office in Türkiye supports these efforts through technical collaboration with the Ministry of Health, including youth-focused awareness and health education initiatives. WHO has also promoted the Smoke-Free Campus policy, which has been adopted by a growing number of universities across Türkiye to help create healthier environments for students and staff.
“International exchange and collaboration play an important role in strengthening public health policies,” said Dr Sevil Huseynova, WHO Representative in Türkiye. “This exchange visit provided an opportunity to share experiences, learn from Ireland’s approach to tobacco control and explore areas for continued cooperation in support of healthier, tobacco-free communities.”
WHO organized and supported the exchange as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen implementation of the WHO FCTC through knowledge sharing, technical cooperation and collaboration among Member States. WHO extends its sincere appreciation to the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Ireland for its valuable support in facilitating the visit and to the Turkish delegation for its strong commitment, active engagement and leadership in advancing evidence-based tobacco control policies that protect current and future generations.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to continue technical cooperation and knowledge exchange in support of healthier, tobacco-free communities.