The role of a WHO country office is to respond to requests from the host country to support policy-making on sustainable health development, taking a holistic health-system approach. This includes providing guidance, building up local relationships to implement technical cooperation, standards and agreements, and ensuring that public health measures are coordinated and in place during crises.

The WHO Country Office, Turkey - in Ankara - was set up in 1959, initially as a WHO representative office. It became a liaison office in 1999 and a WHO country office in February 2008. Dr Maria Cristina Profili is its Head, and leads a team of five staff.