Turkey ranks higher than the likes of Germany in medical tourism

With the arrival of the age of information we are witness to the rise of many countries with rich cultures and historical backgrounds in the sphere of medical tourism. Due to the many great civilizations that have thrived in the geographical area that we know today as Turkey and also due to the massive financial investments of the Turkish government, Turkey has become a tourism giant. At the peak of its tourism power in 2019, Turkey attracted 51 million tourists, which made it the 6^th most popular tourism destination in the world. 11 percent of all the Turkish GDP comes from tourism and 9 percent of its 83 million population work in the tourism industry. The immense influx of tourists coming to the country have paved the way for the rise of medical tourism in Turkey.

Naturally, a state such as Turkey being a tourism power, invests in all manners of tourism, among them, medical tourism. Here we take a general look at medical tourism in Turkey and its benefits.

Turkey; a Medical Power
One the two chief causes of Turkey becoming a dominant medical tourism destination, is the fact that it provides quality services in most medical fields. While certain countries, such as Brazil, have climbed the medical tourism ladder through focus on a single specific medical field, Turkey excels in most, if not all medical fields. Turkey, along with Iran, are the two most innovative countries in liver transplant surgery worldwide. Turkey is also considered the hair transplant capital of the world with some of the most renowned hair transplantation centers being located in the cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya.

In certain cases Turkish medical services cost close to an unbelievable 90 percent less than in Europe and the USA.

Turkey performs the most number of eye surgeries annually out of any country in the world. Success in ophthalmologic surgeries is directly linked with the experience of the medic, hence making it one of the most intricate and complex medical procedures. Therefore the Turkish experience in the field is a unique property of the country’s medical tourism. Along with the low costs of ophthalmologic treatments, this quality makes Turkey one of the best destinations of eye issue treatments.

Turkey ranks among the top five countries in the world in cardiovascular surgeries, to the extent that it even attracts medical tourists from countries like the UK and Russia.

Turkish performance rates in cosmetic surgeries also eclipse European states. The most advanced and popular cosmetic procedures that draw medical tourists to Turkey include facelift, tummy tuck operations, skin and nose rejuvenation, breast size adjustments, and wrinkle reduction.

Turkish Success and Low Costs

In 2008 Turkey received 75 thousand medical tourists, 10 years later in 2018, this number increased to 850 thousand. This incredible growth of more than ten times reflects the success and credibility of the Turkish model of medical tourism. In 2018 the Journal of International Medical Tourism ranked Turkey as the third ideal country to visit for medical tourism purposes; below USA and South Korea, and above Thailand and Germany.

Istanbul alone hosts 36 JCI accredited hospitals. This means that this single city has more accredited hospitals than most countries in the world.

All these successes however, have not come at the expense of affordable costs. In certain cases Turkish medical services cost close to an unbelievable 90 percent less than in Europe and the USA. To exemplify, the advanced heart valve surgery costs 150 thousand US Dollars in the US. The same operation costs only 17 thousand US Dollars in Turkey. Medical Tourism in Turkey is even cheaper than in rival countries like Thailand, India and Singapore. An angiography cycle for example, costs 13 thousand Dollars in Singapore, 11 thousand Dollars in India, and 10 thousand Dollars in Thailand; while Turkey performs the same exact operation with just 5 thousand Dollars.

Turkey’s Special Facilities for Medical Tourists

Alongside massive investments, the Turkish governments also has gone to other lengths to facilitate the process of medical tourism in Turkey. One of these actions, is the special 25 percent discount that the Turkish Airlines offers passengers with a medical visa. Bearing this visa also provides discounts at the later stages of the trip such as in the Turkish special hospital-hotels.

In the case of need, the Turkish Ministry of Tourism provides interpreters for the medical tourists in the country.

Medical Tourism and Tourism; Always Hand in Hand

Indulging in normal tourism during the process of the treatment and the subsequent convalescence is a cornerstone of any medical tourism journey. Turkey is one of the crown jewels of this specialty. Due to its strategic location between Europe and Asia, throughout the ages Turkey has been a host to many great civilizations such the Hittites, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans and the Ottomans. Each of these grand civilizations have left their own distinct mark on the land that is now known as Turkey, giving it a rich historical and cultural heritage.

This is reflected in part by Turkey’s 18 natural and cultural heritage sights as accredited by the UNESCO; the most famous of these being the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, The Ephesus, and the Cappadocia historical complex.

The Ephesus, originally built by Ionian Greeks and featuring architectural marvels later added by the Roman emperor “Hadrian”, is a perfect example the rich and diverse historical heritage of Turkey.

Turkey has access to both the Black and Mediterranean seas, and has constructed a great number of resorts that patients can use as relaxing getaways during their treatment. Best destinations for this purpose include the city of Samsun on the Black Sea coast and the famed and beautiful city of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast.

Article by: Parsa Khaknezhad