HEALTH TOURISM

In the world and in our country, health tourism has been a rapidly rising trend in recent years and is a very important alternative type of tourism.

What is Health Tourism?

Health tourism is traveling from the country of residence to another country for treatment purposes for any reason in order to regain health. A person who travels for treatment purposes is called a health tourist.

Health tourism should not be considered only as a type of tourism for receiving treatment in hospitals.

Although all types of tourism that promote healthy living should be accepted as health tourism, health tourism is evaluated under three main categories:

1. Medical Tourism (Treatment and surgical procedures in hospitals, etc.)
2. Thermal Tourism (Rehabilitation and relaxation services in thermal facilities, etc.)
3. Elderly and Disabled Tourism (Long-term stays in geriatric treatment centers or highlands with social activities)

Main Reasons for Health Tourism

1. The lack or absence of high-technology healthcare services and professional human resources in the patient’s country.
2. The desire to combine treatment with a vacation.
3. The high cost of healthcare services in their own country.
4. The desire to receive higher quality healthcare services.
5. Not wanting a surgery to be known in their own country for any reason (Plastic Surgery, Infertility treatment, etc.).
6. Tourism mobility in cases where there are limited climatic and geographical opportunities for vacation in their country (traveling to countries with forests, highlands, historical and cultural richness), mostly preferring countries with extensive thermal facilities and Thermal Tourism opportunities.
7. The desire of chronic patients, the elderly, and disabled individuals to go to different environments and receive treatment.
8. The desire of individuals with drug or other addictions to be in different or more suitable environments.
9. The individual’s desire to hold on to life and continue living.

As a result, health tourism is diverse and includes many reasons. The main reason is tourism carried out in order to regain health in a different country with better opportunities, and it is a rapidly growing sector.

HEALTH TOURISM IN TURKEY

In our country, there are 42 healthcare institutions accredited by JCI at international standards. Especially in Istanbul and Ankara, private, public, and university hospitals are equipped with the highest technology in the world.

In many hospitals in Turkey, advanced technological healthcare services are provided in oncological treatments, cardiovascular surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, and dentistry.

In these hospitals, Cyberknife, robotic surgery, MRI services, bone marrow transplantation, and organ transplantation can be performed.

Within the Health Tourism Department of the Ministry of Health, 24/7 services are provided in Arabic, English, German, and Russian. In emergency situations, 112 can be called; in complaint situations, 184 can be contacted. Interpretation services are also available for international patients in hospitals.

All doctors are required to have professional liability insurance, and in case of any medical error or malpractice, compensation is immediately paid to the patient by the insurance.

All hospitals operate according to national accreditation criteria and are inspected twice a year. All procedures and coordination related to health tourism are legally under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health.

All 74 million people living in our country have compulsory health insurance and can receive healthcare services from private, public, and university hospitals.

Especially some hospitals (such as Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Türkiye High Specialization Hospital, Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine) are highly experienced healthcare institutions that have been serving for many years and have performed thousands of surgeries.

In addition, private and public hospitals built in the last 10 years have technological equipment and physical conditions comparable to Western countries.

In terms of thermal resources, Turkey ranks seventh in the world and first in Europe. Highly equipped and well-established thermal hotels have been rapidly developed in this field.

As a result, we offer the climate, natural beauty, historical and cultural regions of our country, Western-standard healthcare services in our hospitals, and thermal resources not only to our own citizens but also to all people living around us.

We invite you to our country as a gateway to healing for a healthy life.

HEALTH TOURISM STATISTICS

In the Field of Medical Tourism

Foreign patients coming to our country and their branches are as follows:

2009 Foreign Patient Rates in Public and Private Hospitals

Countries:
Germany, Netherlands, France, Turkic Republics, Austria, and Middle Eastern Countries. 70% came from these countries.

2010 Foreign Patient Rates in Public and Private Hospitals

Private Hospitals (92%)
Public Hospitals (8%)

Branches:
Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Orthopedics, Cardiology, Oncology, Plastic Surgery, and Neurosurgery. 80% came for these branches.

Countries:
Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Turkic Republics, Middle East, Belgium, and 20% from other countries.

A NEW ERA IN HEALTH TOURISM

In the last nine years, major breakthroughs have been achieved in the healthcare sector in Turkey. Through a series of reforms, the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system have increased.

In addition to public healthcare services, private healthcare services have also rapidly developed in recent years. Turkey provides services at European standards with its modern hospitals, trained workforce, specialist doctors, technological infrastructure, and accumulated experience.

Turkey ranks second in the world with 42 healthcare institutions accredited by JCI (37 hospitals, 3 laboratories, 1 transport vehicle, and 1 outpatient center).

Turkey is an attraction center for health tourism due to its geographical location, healthcare institutions, trained workforce, thermal springs, and natural beauty.

In 2011, Turkey reached 33,027,943 foreign tourists and has become the shining star of health tourism with its high-technology facilities and price advantages.

YOU ARE INVITED TO TURKEY FOR HEALTH TOURISM

The world now recognizes Turkey as a new healthcare partner and a rising medical tourism center.

Turkey combines its medical and thermal tourism resources, spa and wellness opportunities, and five-star hotels to offer quality and affordable tourism packages to health tourists.

DO NOT TRAVEL FAR FOR HEALTH

Turkey is a crossroads between two continents, bordering Europe, Asia, and Central Asia. It is easily and quickly accessible by air from many countries.

From the moment the health tourist arrives in Turkey until returning home, all services they may need are provided by expert healthcare personnel and agency officials.

FINAL WORD IN HEALTH TOURISM

Turkey has a well-trained and educated workforce in the healthcare sector. There are no communication problems thanks to foreign-language-speaking doctors and healthcare personnel.

Due to climate disadvantages, especially in Northern Europe and Scandinavian countries where rheumatic diseases are common, demand for thermal tourism is higher.

With its relative advantages in climate, price, security, and transportation, Turkey holds an extraordinary position in medical tourism, spa & wellness, thermal tourism, elderly tourism, and sports tourism.

With visa exemptions, border facilities, and political and cultural relations, travel from Middle Eastern countries has significantly increased.

As healthcare costs are high in developed countries, the tendency to receive treatment from lower-cost countries is increasing.

Health tourism will continue to grow rapidly in Turkey as long as healthcare services remain competitive and cost differences remain a major factor.

Turkey is ready to serve approximately 1 billion people in neighboring countries with its high-quality and economical healthcare services.

Very soon, our country will be number one in health tourism worldwide.