Health Tourism in Turkey

Turkey is a country that has been renowned for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Turkey occupies a unique geographic location, partly in Asia and partly in Europe. It has acted like a bridge and a melting pot of different cultures and civilizations. Medical tourism has grown to an enormous proportion recently with people from advanced and developed countries like the United Kingdom and the United States traveling to countries like Turkey, India, etc., in order to seek medical treatment and procedures. The most sought-after procedures are complicated surgeries, dental work, cosmetic surgeries, kidney dialysis, organ transplants, and medical checkups.

Turkey as a medical tourism destination

One of the top ten locations for medical tourism worldwide is Turkey. The appeal of Turkey as a choice for medical tourism is based on the low cost of treatments, fast access to quality medical care, and high quality of care. Using Turkey as a health tourism destination saves you money, relatively more than other countries. Many medical procedures in Turkey are half or even lower than half of what they cost in other countries, especially in the European Union. Also, its accessibility is a great advantage that helps in boosting her desirability as a health tourism center; Turkey is only about 2-3 hours away from major European and Middle Eastern cities. Also, more than 50 countries have visa-free access to Turkey.

Over half of the hospitals in Turkey are operated by the Turkish Ministry of Health, while the remaining is owned by the private sector, universities, and foreign institutions. Many of the hospitals also have affiliations with Western medical groups and institutions as well as having local and international accreditations. The more sophisticated hospitals also cater to the choice of language of the client. They provide interpreters that help the clients navigate the language barrier of Turkey.

What is the quality of the hospitals in Turkey?

About 30 medical establishments are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), which is about the highest and most prestigious award that any country has ever received. Also, some of the hospitals have been linked with prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins Medicine among others. The best hospitals in Turkey are also optimized for medical tourism and are equipped with the latest medical technology, and employ board-certified staff.

What are some of the medical services sought by medical tourists in Turkey?

Turkish hospitals and medical centers provide a wide range of treatments and services that are optimized for medical tourists. Some of the services they offer include:

• Renal dialysis
• Cosmetic surgeries
• Neurological treatment
• Cancer treatment
• Fertility treatments
• Dentistry
• Organ transplantations etc.

What are the reasons Turkey is one of the best countries for health tourism?

Health tourism in Turkey is usually considered by residents of lesser developed countries where some medical interventions for some specific issue are not yet available in their country. They then seek these treatments abroad and would usually prefer where they can get the best quality medical care for less. However, recently this trend has started shifting, and people from more developed countries are seeking lower-cost but high-quality medical treatment with a shorter waiting time. Some of the other reasons for the growing popularity of health tourism are:

• Affordable medical services that do not impinge on the quality of the service
• No waiting time for specialized surgeries
• Higher confidentiality

Reasons for Turkey as a destination for health tourism include:

• Turkey is a central hub country – The country is referred to as the gateway between the Eastern and Western cultures. It is a very accessible location from most areas, and it has always been a melting pot for diverse cultures, a commercial hub, and a political center. The Istanbul airport is also one of the largest airports in the world, catering to around 200 million passengers each year with around 200-300 direct flights worldwide.
• Surgeries are cheaper in Turkey – Surgeries in Turkey can be very cheap, and medical tourists take advantage of this. Cosmetic surgeries in Turkey can also be about 80% cheaper than in advanced European countries while not sacrificing the quality of the surgery. The offers are so economical that when the surgery cost, travel expenses, accommodation, and other miscellaneous fees are calculated, it may still be cheaper compared to having the same surgery in most advanced Western countries.
• Their treatment packages are optimized for medical tourists – Turkey is a great country for a wide array of medical treatments and surgeries like hair transplants, dental work, cosmetic surgeries, and more. This fact enables some institutions to offer package deals that are vastly cheaper than getting the treatments separately. The institutions also offer exclusive privatized medical trips where for extra payment, they can handle your accommodation, transportation, and other needs.
• The quality of the hospitals and surgeons is high – The Turkish government is invested in the development of their health sector, ensuring that it is at the very top of the industry. The government has a private-public-partnership model that helps in improving the country’s healthcare infrastructure. The combination of this with the internationally trained medical personnel who decide to stay back in Turkey ensures that the level of acre gotten is always the best.
• There is a quick response for their medical service – Due to the fact the government takes the revenue it generates from medical tourism very seriously, they give attention and incentives to their international medical clients. It is possible to have a consultation and get an appointment in as little as two weeks compared to waiting for almost a year for the same procedure in other countries.

Conclusion 

Turkey is a great location for a wide array of treatments, surgeries, and other special medical interventions. The blend of quality and affordable treatment with the tourist destinations in the country can give the client a unique and unforgettable experience. The medical personnel in Turkey are highly qualified, the infrastructures in their medical institutions are among the best in the world, and they are accredited by some of the top medical organizations in the world like the JCI. All in all, Turkey is one of the best countries for health tourism.