Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey
The
Balıklı Greek Hospital
(
Greek
:
Ελληνικ? Νοσοκομε?ο του Βαλουκλ?
,
Turkish
:
Balıklı Rum Hastanesi
) is a health care institution at
Balıklı
neighborhood of
Yedikule
quarter in
Zeytinburnu
district of
Istanbul
, which was established in the 1753 and continues its service run by the
Greek community of Turkey
.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
History
[
edit
]
The Balıklı Greek Hospital was originally established as the Yedikule Hospital through
Ottoman government
edict in 1753.
[2]
[6]
[7]
The hospital was built and sponsored by the Union of Greek Grocers.
[6]
The immediate objective of the hospital was to help cure epidemics and common diseases specifically affecting the ethnic Greek population of
Constantinople
. The hospital however was subjected to a fire in 1790, which completely destroyed the structure. The hospital was rebuilt in 1793 under the sponsorship of
Patriarch Neophytus VIII
(reigned 1891-1894).
[6]
By the end of the 18th century, the Greek community of Constantinople had built three hospitals: this one, in 1762 another in the district of
Galata
and in 1780 a third in
Pera
. All three hospitals had their own particular constitutions, but they were all placed under the supervision of the
Ecumenical Patriarch
, who was responsible for nominating the administrative boards of the hospitals.
[6]
In 1852, through the sponsorship of
Patriarch Cyril VI
, the Balıklı hospital established an orphanage on the premises.
[2]
The hospitals records reveal that the community's hospitals were open to all patiences regardless of ethnic origin and religious beliefs.
[6]
The hospital also features a church, which serves not only for the patients but the Greek Orthodox community at large.
During the
Istanbul riots
of 1955, the hospital received many patients, who suffered from trauma, rape, and physical abuse.
[8]
The hospital was restored in 1991 and in 1994, the first private clinic for the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse in Turkey was established.
[2]
In late 1960, the Turkish treasure seized the properties of the Balıklı Greek Hospital. The hospital sued the treasury on the ground that the transfer of its property was illegal, but the Turkish courts were in favor of the Turkish treasure. In August 2002, a new law was passed by the Turkish parliament to protect the minorities rights, because of
Turkey's EU candidacy
. With this new law, it prevented the Turkish treasury from seizing community foundations properties.
[9]
Today
[
edit
]
Today, Balıklı Greek Hospital continues to cater the public in Istanbul. In 2011, the hospital had 39 doctors, 98 nurses, and other assistants and personnel, which accounted for 440 employees in total.
[2]
On August 4, 2022, a fire broke out on the roof of the hospital. The roof was completely destroyed and the upper floor was also destroyed except for the exterior walls. However, the ground floor of the hospital remained unscathed from the fire.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Ebrahimnejad, Hormoz (2009).
The development of modern medicine in non-western countries: historical perspectives
([Paperback]. ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 91?92.
ISBN
9780415447423
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
"History"
(in Turkish). Balikli Rum Hastanesi (Official Website)
. Retrieved
9 January
2013
.
- ^
"Balıklı Greek Trust Hospital"
. Zeytinburnu Portal
. Retrieved
9 January
2013
.
- ^
"Anatolia Klinikleri"
(in Turkish). Ailem. Archived from
the original
on 13 December 2010
. Retrieved
9 January
2013
.
- ^
"Ozel Balıklı Rum Hastanesi Hakkında"
(in Turkish)
. Retrieved
10 January
2013
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Scott, Anthony, ed. (2003).
Good and faithful servant : stewardship in the Orthodox Church
. Crestwood (N.Y.): St. Vladimir's seminary press. pp.
114?115
.
ISBN
9780881412550
.
- ^
Torel, Rafael; Benkohen, Edmon; Tugay, Mehmet Selim; Tugay, Emine Ci?dem; Danacıo?lu, Esra (2003).
Or-Ahayim Hospital: A Century of Love and Compassion
. Balat Or-Ahayim Jewish Hospital Foundation. p. 247.
- ^
Vryonis, Speros (2005).
The mechanism of catastrophe: the Turkish pogrom of September 6-7, 1955 and the destruction of the Greek community of Istanbul
(3. printing. ed.). New York: Greekworks.com. p.
222
.
ISBN
9780974766034
.
- ^
Ramazan Kılınc (2019).
Alien Citizens The State and Religious Minorities in Turkey and France
. Cambridge University Press. p. 48.
doi
:
10.1017/9781108692649
.