By Kadiatu A. Turay
Medipol Global International Health Services Türkiye’s largest private healthcare network and university hospital has expressed strong interest in investing in Sierra Leone’s health sector following a recent diplomatic engagement with Her Excellency Francess Virginia Anderson, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Türkiye.
On July 2025 the meeting, described by both sides as promising and forward-looking, was held at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Ankara shortly after Medipol’s participation in the Sierra Leone-Türkiye Investment and Trade Seminar in Istanbul on May 30. It aimed to explore avenues for strategic partnerships that could transform Sierra Leone’s health system.
Mr. Murat Beltek, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Medipol, led the visiting delegation and expressed optimism about Sierra Leone’s investment climate.
The investment seminar opened our eyes to Sierra Leone’s untapped potential, we see real opportunities for impactful healthcare collaboration, he said.
Sierra Leone’s health sector has long grappled with underfunding, limited infrastructure, and poor access to care especially in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering effects of Ebola only exposed further weaknesses. However, initiatives like this one signal a turning point, combining diplomacy and private investment to close critical health gaps.
Ambassador Anderson, known for her proactive engagement with Turkish investors, called on Medipol to take its interest beyond the conference room.
We’re thrilled by your interest. I encourage you to join other Turkish investors traveling to Sierra Leone this September for feasibility studies. Our country is ready for meaningful partnerships that uplift our people, she stated.
She highlighted that healthcare remains a pillar of President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development Agenda, which also prioritizes education and agriculture.
Medipol University Hospital is one of Europe and the Middle East’s most advanced medical institutions, it offers state-of-the-art services in oncology, cardiovascular surgery, general medicine, dentistry, and more. The hospital is distinguished by its futuristic design, intelligent systems, and world-class medical technologies.
If a partnership materializes, Sierra Leone could benefit from Medipol’s deep expertise and cutting-edge infrastructure an opportunity to modernize its struggling healthcare system.
In Sierra Leone, news of Medipol’s interest was welcomed with cautious optimism.
Dr. Hawa Sesay, a senior medical officer at Connaught Hospital, emphasized the urgent need for investment.
This could be a game-changer, we need oncology units, working surgical equipment, and, more importantly, skills transfer, our doctors and nurses must benefit from professional development.”
In Bo District, midwife Mariatu Kamara spoke from experience:
Women and children in rural areas are often left behind. If Medipol or any investor is serious about reaching the underserved not just the urban elite we’ll welcome them.
Around Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Sierra Leone’s health sector a model that has shown success in several low-income countries. PPPs allow governments to tap into private resources while delivering public health services.
Health economist Alhaji Amadu Bah, based in Makeni, welcomed the potential collaboration but urged caution.
We need watertight agreements price controls, job quotas for locals, technology transfer, and clear national ownership. Investment without accountability is not development.
The Medipol initiative forms part of a broader strengthening of Sierra Leone–Türkiye relations. In recent years, Türkiye has supported Sierra Leone through humanitarian aid, scholarships, and infrastructure support, the May 30 seminar marked a deepening of these ties, attracting both governments and private investors.
Fatih Dursun, a Turkish entrepreneur who attended the seminar, described Sierra Leone as an untapped market full of opportunities.
From agriculture to logistics and now healthcare, Sierra Leone is becoming the next frontier for investment, he noted.
According to Ambassador Anderson, a high-level Turkish investment mission including Medipol is expected in September 2025. Delegates will conduct feasibility studies, assess existing health infrastructure, and begin groundwork for potential hospital or diagnostic center projects.
Government sources say that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Minister and SLIEPA (Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency), will coordinate the visit to ensure productive outcomes.
While previous promises of investment have faltered, observers say this latest effort feels different backed by strong diplomatic ties and a leading international player in the health sector. Still, many stress the need for vigilance and transparency.
Health is not a luxury it’s a right. Any partner who helps us realize that right is welcome, concluded Ambassador Anderson, reaffirming her mission’s commitment to building meaningful and sustainable international partnerships.
If executed with accountability and equity, the Medipol-Sierra Leone collaboration could mark the beginning of a new era in healthcare delivery one driven by innovation, access, and shared progress.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday,14th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
