Since its official opening in 2015, the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital in Mogadishu has become one of Somalia’s most trusted and respected medical centers, offering hope to thousands of patients every month.
The hospital, whose construction began in 2012 with Turkish support, now treats around 40,000 patients monthly. People not only come from across Somalia but also from neighboring countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia. With 250 beds and state-of-the-art facilities, it is the largest Turkish overseas medical humanitarian project and a flagship of Somalia-Türkiye cooperation.
Modern Care for a Fragile System
The hospital is equipped with emergency care units, intensive care sections, maternity wards, eight operating theaters, neonatal ICUs, a dialysis unit, a burn center, and an angiography department. It provides many services unavailable elsewhere in the country, strengthening Somalia’s fragile healthcare system weakened by decades of conflict.
Chief Physician Dr. İbrahim Ağaoğlu highlighted that the hospital is not profit-driven but service-oriented:
“Our goal is to provide the highest quality healthcare at the lowest possible cost. Many of the services here are the first and only of their kind in Somalia.”
Currently, the institution employs 170 Somali doctors, 30 Turkish doctors, 1,040 Somali staff, and 80 Turkish staff, working together under a joint management model. Vulnerable patients unable to pay are also treated free of charge.
Training the Next Generation
Beyond treatment, the hospital plays a key role in building Somalia’s medical workforce. Each year, hundreds of Somali doctors, nurses, and health workers are trained alongside Turkish specialists. Since 2020, the hospital has produced 128 specialist doctors, including the country’s only two thoracic surgeons.
This training is carried out in partnership with Türkiye’s Health Sciences University, making the hospital unique as the only overseas institution where one country trains specialist doctors for another.
Lifeline During Crises
The hospital has also been critical during national emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it conducted thousands of tests and treatments. It continues to act as a referral center during disasters, epidemics, and mass casualty incidents.
Deputy Director Muhammed Hüseyin Ashraf described the hospital as “a living example of humanitarian diplomacy.” He noted that it has reduced the need for Somalis to seek treatment abroad, with advanced services such as burn care and intensive care units now available locally.
A Symbol of Brotherhood
For Somalis, the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Hospital is more than a healthcare institution—it is a symbol of trust, brotherhood, and partnership. It represents both Türkiye’s humanitarian commitment and Somalia’s resilience in rebuilding its health system.