Turkish deputy premier meets Qatari health minister

Turkish deputy premier on Thursday expressed hope his country and Qatar would continue to cooperate in the health sector.

"I believe the cooperation between Turkey and Qatar will continue intensively in the health sector as it is in every sector," Recep Akdağ said after receiving the Qatari Health Minister Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari in the capital Ankara.

Akdağ said that the health problems in the two countries were very similar to each other. "Our areas of struggle are rather noncommunicable diseases and risk factors leading to these diseases," Akdağ said.

Turkey and Qatar last year signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of health and medical sciences as part of efforts to enhance relations.

The Qatari minister said that she had a chance to see Turkey's health projects. "Turkey's [health] program has been appreciated internationally."

She said that the two countries have established a working group and its operations would begin in the near future.