World gastroenterologists to converge on Istanbul

By Furkan Gencoglu

ISTANBUL (AA)- The World Congress of Gastroenterology 2019, which will be held in the metropolis Istanbul on Sept. 21-24, will gather more than 2,000 participants from 93 countries, said the head of the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology.

"We are happy to make an economic contribution both to our lovely Istanbul and to our country," Serhat Bor told Anadolu Agency.

The Congress is important as it is the only world congress which will take place in Turkey this year, Bor stressed.

The society had put efforts to make the congress in Turkey and Cihan Yurdaydin, the head of the World Gastroenterology Organization, also played an important role, said Bor.

Noting that the organization holds a congress biannually, Bor said the U.S. and China hosted the congress in previous years.

The Turkish Society of Gastroenterology pays the registration fees of all Turkish scientists, he added.

Bor said that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency -- a government-run aid agency which is responsible for implementing the country's developmental cooperation policies overseas -- also helped them provide flight tickets for 15 international participants.

Stressing that the World Gastroenterology Organization supports participants from both developing and underdeveloped countries in line with its mission, he said they expected significant participation from South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Bor noted that they want to host also the European Congress of Gastroenterology in Turkey.

There are only 916 gastroenterologists in Turkey, and gastroenterology is on the wane due to gastroenterologists' demise or as they quit their jobs or leave the country, he added.

Despite all the problems, Turkish scientists have a distinguished position in the world, according to Bor.

The congress will be organized at the Istanbul Congress Center by the World Gastroenterology Organization and the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology.

More than 30 symposiums and special events will be held during the congress.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar