Turkey’s first municipally-run prosthetics and orthotics centre is transforming recovery for hundreds of earthquake survivors and setting a new standard for resilient, inclusive healthcare in Europe.
Healing after catastrophe
On 6 February 2023, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 struck Turkeyand Syria, devastating 11 provinces and displacing millions. In Gaziantep – one of the closest major cities to the epicentre – the destruction was immediate and devastating on a human level.
Among those who survived, thousands were left with life-changing injuries, including traumatic amputations.
Faced with this crisis, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality launched an initiative to rapidly scale its recently established Buğday Tanesi Prosthetics and Orthotics Production and Application Centre – the first municipally run facility of its kind in Turkey – and to expand its services far beyond city limits.
What began as a local initiative became a national model for recovery.
“This pioneering effort goes beyond restoring mobility for individuals with limb loss – it rebuilds independence, dignity and hope,” says Ece Akdemir, Foreign Affairs Expert at Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.
A holistic model providing more than mobility
The centre offers far more than prosthetic limbs.
It provides patients with pre-prosthetic consultations, physical rehabilitation, wound care, psychosocial support, custom prosthesis production, post-prosthetic training and regular follow-ups. And every treatment plan is tailored to individual needs.
As Akdemir notes, “This project prioritises innovation, accessibility and social inclusion, aligning with EU values on healthcare equality.” The initiative aligns with EU policies on disability rights, healthcare accessibility, and post-disaster recovery efforts.
And its reach is wide. In the months following the earthquake, Gaziantep extended services to thousands across Hatay, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Adana, Kilis and Elazığ, dispatching mobile teams to deliver care, conduct evaluations and deliver equipment.
From prototype to powerhouse
The original Buğday Tanesi workshop was launched in January 2020 but paused during COVID-19. It resumed operations in June 2020, was officially licensed by the Provincial Health Directorate in March 2022, and entered an agreement with Turkey’s Social Security Institution in April 2022.
But the earthquakes accelerated everything.
With the support of a €937,500 grant from an international organisation in Hong Kong, a $5 million grant from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission, and cooperation with the Turkish Confederation of Disabled People, the municipality completed a new 826m² centre, operational since February 2024.
It includes advanced technologies like 3D printing, CAD/CAM design and biomechanical analysis, enabling highly customised and efficient development and reducing production time for prosthetic devices by 40%.
“The project is designed for long-term sustainability through continuous funding, capacity building and community engagement,” says Akdemir.
The numbers behind the lives
This model can be replicated by other municipalities that prioritise inclusive urban development and social welfare.
This model can be replicated by other municipalities that prioritise inclusive urban development and social welfare.
As of early 2025, the centre has:
- Provided prosthetics and orthotics to 837 individuals, including 511 earthquake survivors
- Delivered psychosocial support and physical therapy to 185 patients
- Supported over 200 people in remote areas through mobile teams
- Registered 367 ongoing patients receiving comprehensive pre- and post-prosthetic care
- Reached more than 1,000 direct beneficiaries and growing
These achievements reflect a project that is not only having a huge – and very real – impact on people’s lives, but is also scalable, sustainable and replicable.
“This model can be replicated by other municipalities that prioritise inclusive urban development and social welfare,” Akdemir explains.
The stories behind the statistics
Behind every number is a person. Özkan Alpaslan, Unit Supervisor, and Fatma Şahan, Project Team Member and Sociologist, from the Buğday Tanesi team shared some of these powerful stories with Eurocities.
One is Necip Aydın, who lost both legs above the knee in Adıyaman and came to the centre in July 2024. After receiving his prosthetics in August and going through weeks of rehabilitation, he began walking again.
Sahan recalls, “This was not just about the delivery of prosthetics – it symbolised his rebirth. His story reminds us all that, no matter what happens, it is possible to survive and find the strength to start over.” Fair partnerships between the state and cities improve urban policy.
Ayşegül Kayadibi lost her left arm, left leg, husband and three children in the earthquake – a series of devastating events that transformed her life. With the support of the Buğday Tanesi team, she received prosthetic limbs between November 2023 and February 2025 and is now walking independently. Beyond her physical recovery, she is also navigating profound psychological trauma and beginning to rebuild her life with remarkable courage.
And then there is five-year-old Hasan Yücel, who lost both legs, his mother and his sibling in the quake. He received his prosthetics in July 2024. His therapy has been designed as play – with colourful tools, small exercises and laughter woven into every session.
“Hasan’s story is not merely a treatment journey – it is a story of resilience, hope and rebirth,” says Şahan.
Resilience meets innovation
One of the defining features of the Buğday Tanesi model is how it combines high-tech production with human-centred care.
By using advanced technologies like 3D printing, the centre is able to produce complex, tailored prosthetics faster and at lower cost. But every technical step is matched by a human connection, with therapists, social workers and psychologists working side-by-side with patients.
This balance has made the centre a national benchmark and a model that the city hopes other European regions might learn from.
Keys to replication
According to Akdemir, the project is highly replicable thanks to eight factors:
- Local government leadership, supported by a strategic social development plan
- Public-private partnerships, including international donors and NGOs
- Integration of advanced technology, reducing costs and wait times
- Holistic care, including physical, psychological and social services
The project is designed for long-term sustainability through continuous funding, capacity building and community engagement.
- Scalability, proven through expansion after the earthquake
- Social inclusion, offering services free to those most in need
- Academic partnerships, with Gaziantep and SANKO Universities
- Long-term sustainability, thanks to strategic budgeting and external funds
“Other cities can replicate this by creating similar collaborations with academic institutions and local NGOs,” Akdemir adds.
Overcoming challenges
The road hasn’t been easy. Following the earthquakes, the centre faced:
- A sudden surge in demand, with hundreds of new amputees
- Infrastructure challenges in affected provinces
- The need to scale up production and staff capacity quickly
- Emotional trauma among patients, requiring expanded psychological services
- Financial pressure, met through international cooperation
Through these challenges, the city leaned into its partnerships and values.
“These experiences underscore the project’s commitment to strengthening community resilience through innovative healthcare practices,” says Akdemir.
A European story shaped locally
While the Buğday Tanesi project was born in Turkey, it speaks to the core European values of solidarity, accessibility, resilience and dignity.
Akdemir highlights that its model, “reflects the EU’s core values of unity, solidarity and human dignity, showcasing how local innovation can create a global ripple effect of positive change.” This pioneering effort goes beyond restoring mobility for individuals with limb loss – it restores independence, dignity and hope.
It also aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
“By addressing these pressing healthcare needs, the initiative aligns with EU policies on disability rights, healthcare accessibility and post-disaster recovery efforts,” Akdemir adds.
A future-focused model
Akdemir hopes this initiative will continue growing – not just in Gaziantep, but across Turkey and Europe.
Plans include:
- Expanding mobile outreach to harder-to-reach areas
- Increasing use of AI and biomechanics in prosthetic design
- Strengthening partnerships with EU institutions and health agencies
- Offering training for other municipalities interested in replicating the model
The project’s foundations of advanced tech, human dignity, strategic planning and deep partnerships make it one of the most adaptable, future-ready health initiatives in Europe today.
This initiative is shortlisted in the ‘Inspiring City’ initiative category at the Eurocities Awards 2025. This year, for the first time, Eurocities member cities are involved in selecting the winners of the awards. Our members can now vote to choose the best city hero and the best city initiative.
You can view the full awards shortlist here.
Results will be announced on Thursday 5 June at Eurocities 2025 Braga.
