All that you NEED to KNOW about Medical Tourism in Turkey:

Turkey is one of the ten best medical tourism countries in the world. In 2017, Turkey welcomed 700,000 medical tourism tourists. The three main benefits of medical tourism in Turkey are the low cost, excellent quality of care, and quick access to world-class treatment. However, Turkey’s main advantage is that it offers substantial discounts when you compare it to other nations. For example, many treatments cost 50% to 70% less than identical therapy in the EU. 

Turkey is at a central position, just 2-3 hours from major European and Middle Eastern cities. Turkey offers visa-free travel to over 70 countries. Turkish Airlines’ extensive flight network makes it possible for patients from all over the globe to travel in comfort and at a low cost. 

 

1 – Why I should prefer Medical tourism in Turkey? 

Many individuals go to Turkey for healthcare because of the low cost, high quality, short waiting times, and world-class facilities. The Joint Commission International has certified 32 Turkish hospitals, the majority of which are in Istanbul. Turkey had 75,000 medical tourism tourists in 2008. In ten years, the number has risen tenfold, and 850.000 tourists were expected in 2018. Some medical procedures are 90% less expensive than in other nations. 

Angiography, for example, costs $47,000 in the United States, $13,000 in Singapore, $11,000 in India, $10,000 in Thailand, and $5,000 in Turkey. Similarly, heart valve surgery costs $150,000 in the United States and $17,000 in Turkey. Furthermore, the procedure waiting time was two weeks, excluding transplantation, while in Western nations, the same process might take up to 18 months. 

Turkey is rated third in medical tourism (IMTJ). The United States was the first, South Korea was second, Thailand was fourth, and Germany was fifth on the list. In addition, several hospitals provide patients and their families with 5-star lodgings. 

2 – Benefits of Traveling to Turkey for Medical Treatment:

• Turkey is a market leader in medical tourism and healthcare facilitation. 
• No Wait Lists. 

• It is quickly becoming the preferred location for a wide variety of medical treatments. 
• Internationally recognized medical institutions that use cutting-edge technology. 
• Highly competent physicians/surgeons and hospital support personnel. 
• Comparatively, private healthcare here is significantly less costly. 
• Medical treatment prices in Turkey are at least 60-80 % cheaper when compared to comparable operations in North America and the United Kingdom. 

• English-speaking staff. 
• Services such as a dedicated staff during your stay, translator, private chef, and private rooms are available. 
• It can be easily integrated with a vacation or business trip. 
• Accredited and well-equipped hospitals. 
• High-quality health services. 

• Competitive rates. 
• Hospitality and culture. 
• Geographical location 
• Traditional, natural, historical, and scenic attractions 

People from all over the globe travel long distances in pursuit of the finest health care. By the best, we mean experienced and competent physicians, cutting-edge medical technology, and inexpensive therapies. The Turkish medical service is praised throughout the world for its excellent healthcare facilities, famous physicians, and affordable pricing. Over the last several decades, Turkey has seen a massive inflow of patients from all over the world for a number of reasons. The number of medical tourists in Turkey has increased from 75,000 in 2007 to 700,000 in 2017. By 2018, the figure had risen to one million. 

Faced with rising healthcare expenses in their own countries, tourists from Europe, Russia, and Saudi Arabia travel hundreds of miles to save up to 90% on treatment expenditures. From reproductive issues and organ transplants to hair grafts and aesthetic treatments, Turkey offers something for any patient looking for a solution, which is why medical tourism in Turkey is growing. 

3 – An intimate look at Turkey’s healthcare system:

Medical tourism is on the rise in the twenty-first century, owing to low-cost flights, open communication, and, most significantly, a desire for better care. Turkey has established a network of experts across the nation with extensive expertise to handle any operation with ease. 

The Ministry of Health (MoH) oversees the health care industry by ensuring that hospitals meet European Union (EU) standards, that fundamental procedures for foreign patients are functioning properly. The year-over-year growth in health personnel is almost 5.7 %, which seems to be extremely encouraging. According to a ministry study, there has been a 3.7 % increase in hospital beds and a 4.5 % increase in dentistry compared to the previous year. 

Medical tourism in Turkey has been a popular destination for over 700,000 foreign patients from all over the world. 

An estimate of how much treatment could cost Turkey’s position is advantageous for foreign visitors from both Europe and Asia. 

Aside from the cheap airfare, the low cost of treatment and shorter wait times are significantly increasing medical tourism in Turkey. 

In most wealthy nations, treatments are very unpleasant. Patients are emotionally, financially, and psychologically susceptible as a result of these therapy choices. Instead, medical tourism in Turkey has been shown to be more cost-effective, effective, and efficient. A heart valve replacement, for example, would cost almost $150k, while the identical procedure in a Turkish hospital would cost little more than $17k. In the UK, the typical wait period for a knee replacement is 12-18 months, while Turkey’s appointment date will take no more than two weeks. 

4 – Laws governing foreign patients visiting Turkey: 

For patients in poor nations where the healthcare system is underdeveloped or for financially disadvantaged individuals who need urgent medical treatment, Turkey should be their one-stop shop. In March 2018, Turkey exempted non-resident patients visiting Turkey for treatment or rehabilitation from VAT in MoH-controlled institutions. Medical tourism has been a major emphasis of national tourism in Turkey, ensuring that international patients get transparent and safe care. 

Approximately four out of every ten patients who attend Turkish hospitals are there for cancer treatment. In cancer therapy, the nation has seen a lot of success. Turkish experts get training and internships at the world’s finest hospitals. The hospitals have contemporary technology; the most modern forms of cancer therapy are available here. Here are a few examples: 

5 – Cancer of the prostate:

It is possible to cure Early-stage prostate cancer with a near-perfect success rate. Laparoscopic and robot-assisted operations are in practice in Turkish medical facilities to remove the not working prostate gland while retaining control over urine and erection. Actinium-225 and Lutetium-177, when administered intravenously, aggregate in all foci of prostate cancer with metastases and produce beta particles. Because beta-radiation does not travel great distances in tissues, it acts primarily in metastasis foci of prostate cancer while sparing healthy neighboring organs. 

5.1 – Cancer of the colon:

Laparoscopic surgery is in practice to remove it. Patients heal quicker after such a surgery and are less prone to have severe consequences. Treatment may be successful even in the late stages of cancer because physicians conduct cytoreductive surgery followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy. 

5.2 – Cancer of the blood (acute leukemia):

Chemotherapy is in use to treat it, and if that fails, a bone marrow transplant is available. Every year, the nation conducts around 3000 such operations. The overwhelming majority of them are successful — they treat cancer while causing no severe side effects. 

5.3 – Cancer of the bowel:

Following gene testing, a treatment plan for bowel cancer is available at Turkish hospitals. Gene testing aid in determining the rate at which tumor cells divide, the probability of tumor spreading, and the likelihood of recurrence once they complete the treatment. The novel liquid biopsy is in use for the traditional diagnostic techniques, such as oncomarkers measurement, imaging investigations, and biopsy. The liquid biopsy aids in both diagnosing and determining how well particular medicines work. 

In qualified individuals, more novel therapies, such as targeted therapy, are in use. You can have Genetic and molecular testing to identify the right medication, including gene mutations in the NRAS, KRAS, and BRAF genes; HER2 protein and HER2 gene; and NTRK genes. Because of the growth of Medical tourism in Turkey, people from all over the world may now undergo such tests and get the required treatment. 

5.4 – Cancer of the uterus:

As surgery remains the primary therapeutic option for uterine cancer, Turkish medical organizations have authorized a variety of less invasive and comprehensive procedures. In menopausal women, uterine and cervix removal may be complemented by bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Sparing radiation therapy, such as MRI-guided radiation therapy, is available. 

5.5 – Cancer of the thymus:

Medical tourism in Turkey allows foreign patients with uncommon diseases to get treatment at specialist institutions in other countries. Thymus cancer presents confusing clinical symptoms and necessitates specialized diagnostics, such as an MRI, CT scan, and PET scan, as well as a sample. Myasthenia gravis and autoimmune paraneoplastic disorders may arise in the context of thymoma, necessitating further therapy. Surgery is in practice for thymus cancer cure, irradiation, and chemotherapy, as well as immunotherapy, hormonal, and main medicines. 

In Turkey, physicians employ radioactive techniques, Gamma Knife, photodynamic therapy, brachytherapy, and a variety of other efficient cancer treatment procedures. 

6 – Other medical tourism locations in Turkey:

Patients are increasingly presenting to neurosurgery departments in Turkish hospitals. Turkish neurosurgeons specialize in the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, and other neurological disorders. The biggest Eye Clinic in the world, Dunyagoz Hospital Istanbul, is located in Istanbul. Every day, it conducts more than 100 eye surgeries. The majority of them are carried out utilizing laser technology. Glaucoma, cataracts, refractive errors, and retinal disorders are also treated at the clinic. 

In Turkey, a significant number of couples attend Reproductive Centers. In these clinics, they may get both diagnosis and therapy for infertility. If required, the germ cells are frozen and may be kept indefinitely. Donor oocyte programs and surrogacy programs are in practice by the centers. Patients in Turkey may also get heart surgery. The facilities use both sophisticated open-heart surgery and interventional cardiology techniques. Many hospitals use minimally invasive endovascular treatments to accomplish coronary dilatation, atrial septal defect closure, and prosthetic valve implantation. 

To sum up, Turkey is on track to become a worldwide leader in medical tourism. It is due to the development of cutting-edge public and private facilities. 

Turkey has long been a popular tourist destination due to its unparalleled historical and cultural appeal, and now, following years of large-scale expenditures by both the private and governmental sectors, the country’s medical infrastructure is drawing visitors from all over the globe. Turkish Airlines, the country’s primary airline, even provides reduced flight rates to medical tourists, and Medical tourism in Turkey magazine estimates that the cost of getting excellent treatment in Turkey is 50 to 65 % less than in the United States. Healthcare stakeholders have taken note, and they are working to lure more international patients to Turkey in the coming years.