It is no secret that Turkey is one of the few countries that has solved its healthcare system. The entire system is based on the collaboration of private and state medical centres in sharing patient load. This has improved to a great extent post-operative success rates and working conditions for clinics, state and private alike. With the start of the 21st century, the integration of healthcare services began to give promising results. This was when Turkish medical centres began to attract the attention of foreign visitors. Queue-free services, competitive prices and remarkable satisfaction rates of Turkish medical centres played an important role in making Turkey a highly appealing destination in health tourism. Today, Turkish hospitals are serving tens of thousands of foreign patients every year and this number is still growing.   

Turkish education system lays down one of the most challenging paths for those who want to become a doctor in Turkey. After taking two university entrance exams, prospective medical students, the creme de la creme of the Turkish population, study at medical schools for six years. While the first two years of medical education is based on theory, medical students go through a tough practice-based training in the latter half of their time at medical school. This often requires accompanying senior practitioners from a selection of fields during the day (and night) on duty. It is during this time medical students in Turkey find the chance to examine hundreds of patients, which is considerably higher than the number of patients an average medical student comes across elsewhere in the world. Yet, this is just the beginning. After six years, freshly graduated students (now MD) need to take one of the most challenging exams in the world: TUS (Turkish Medical Specialisation Exam). Some spend years to pass the exam as it requires a very firm grasp of medical profession combined with expertise and knowledge in almost every field of medicine. After TUS, doctors spend a couple of more years specialising in a specific field. This is often followed by a further specialisation period in an adjacent field. By the time doctors become specialists, they are already highly trained and experienced in their area of expertise. The medical profession is Turkey has made such an impressive name for itself that Turkish clinics frequently host foreign practitioners from the west to train them in many fields from organ transplant to cardiovascular operations.

Turkey is one of the top five countries across the world in the number of JCI (Joint Commission International)- approved medical centres. The majority of medical centres in the country also have major international accreditation certificates. Almost all private hospitals in Turkey and many of the state clinics (including research and training hospitals) have first-class hygiene standards. This is due to the race between Turkish medical institutions and their strict cleanliness standards in order to serve patients in the best conditions possible.

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The high standards Turkish medical centres display has won the praise of countless satisfied patients from around the world. The result of outstanding success rates and first-class services Turkish clinics working with foreign patients have shown is probably one of the main reasons why patients from many different countries have preferred Turkey as their destination for health solutions.  

Turkish medical centres offer highly competitive prices compared to their European counterparts. This is partly because the exchange rate difference between Turkish lira and foreign currencies while the main reason remains to be the low service costs. In addition, the large number of satisfied patients brings out gain on demand for Turkish clinics and helps them keep their prices at reasonable amounts. Also, another reason behind the low prices in Turkey is the unambitious taxation the Turkish state lays on these clinics to promote health tourism. 

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The increasing demand for Turkish medical services has also forced the state to create new regulations to organise, control, and regulate health tourism in Turkey. Since 2005, the Turkish Parliament has legalised a list of bills and regulations to improve and manage healthcare services provided for foreign patients. To this end, patient safety, rights, and demands have been put to the frontline. Through several governing bodies, Turkey now has an impressive body of health tourism management  and control system that protects rights and health of foreign patients. 

We could write paragraphs about Turkey's crystal clear waters, beaches that stretch out for miles, magical cultural heritage, stunningly delicious and diverse cuisine, vibrant night life, splendid scenery... but you possibly know that already. Whether you are looking for a ride on a yacht along the Bosphorus or a peaceful walk through the streets of ancient Ephesus, Turkey has a lot to offer as far as holiday plans are concerned. 

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Almost all patients visiting Turkey for medical or aesthetic treatment usually take this chance to experience the holiday resorts and beautiful sights the country offers. As a country highly experienced in tourism, Turkey is a great destination that has all the potential to combine the two key words of this section, "health" and "tourism." 

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To see our holiday destination suggestions, visit our "Where to go? What to do?" page.

You are very welcome to make a booking for free using our booking page. 

Our representatives will be more than happy to answer if you have more questions about Turkey or health solutions the country offers. 

Looking forward to meeting you in Turkey...

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