Medical advances in Turkey

Improving services using the latest technology, competent experts and affordable prices have helped citizens of many countries in need of treatment to pay attention to Turkey. The country has achieved significant success in medical tourism, offering a wide range of services and generating income.

Turkey is one of the top 10 countries in the world for medical tourism due to the level of development of the healthcare industry and the historical and cultural richness.

Having hosted 1 million people for health tourism purposes, Turkish health professionals, focusing on the tourism aspect of the sector, are now aiming to host 2 million people in the coming years. The head of the International Health Association, Dr. Fulya Sağlık, said that health tourism, one of the oldest types of tourism in the world, has been a booming sector and an important alternative tourism in recent years.

Emphasizing that in recent years Turkey has been providing medical services under European standards thanks to modern clinics, qualified personnel, specialist doctors, technological infrastructure and experience, Saglik said that the quality of care of many private hospitals in Turkey has been approved by world-famous accreditation agencies. According to Saglyk, 42 ​​medical institutions - 37 hospitals, 4 laboratories and 1 outpatient medical center are accredited by the Joint International Commission, which makes Turkey the second most popular in the world.

The public sector receives an average of $9,000 from one "medical" tourist, the private sector - $12,000. Antalya is the most popular region among foreigners arriving for treatment, followed by Istanbul, Izmir, Mugla and Aydin. The busiest months are July, August, and September. The most active foreigners coming to the country for medical purposes are Germans, Libyans and Iraqis.

Health tourism comprises three elements. Saglyk stated: “The first of the three important issues in health tourism is medical tourism (treatment and surgery in hospitals), the second is thermal tourism (rehabilitation and relaxation in sanatoriums) and the third is tourism for the elderly and disabled (long stays in medical centers and mountain areas with social events). She stressed that in recent years, major breakthroughs have been made in the Turkish healthcare sector, and the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system has improved.

Saglik noted Turkey is attractive for healthy tourism because of its geographical location, medical facilities, qualified personnel in the sector, thermal springs and natural beauty: “Turkey is one of the 10 most popular countries in the world for medical tourism because of the level of development of the healthcare industry and historical and wealth."