Health tourism is a rapidly rising trend in the world and in Turkey in recent years and is a very important alternative tourism type.

Health tourism is traveling to a country other than the country of residence in order to regain health, for any reason, for treatment purposes. Those who go for treatment are also called health tourists.

Health tourism should not be considered as a type of tourism that only goes to hospitals for treatment.

Although it is necessary to accept all kinds of tourism that offers a healthy life as health tourism, health tourism is evaluated under 3 main headings.

1. Medical Tourism (Treatment and surgery in hospitals, etc.)
2. Thermal Tourism (Rehabilitation and rest etc. services in Thermal Facilities)
3. Tourism for the Elderly and Disabled (Long-term stays with social activities in geriatric treatment center or highlands)

The main reasons for health tourism:

1. Insufficient or lack of high-tech health services and professional human resources in their country,
2. Desire to take a vacation with treatment,
3. Health services are expensive in their own country,
4. Desiring to receive much higher quality health care services,
5. Not knowing or not wanting the operation in his/her country for any reason (Aesthetic Surgery, Infertility treatment etc.)
6. Tourism mobility (going to countries with forests, plateaus, historical and cultural richness) in the country where there is limited opportunity for a holiday in terms of climate and geography, and the demand for a holiday in a country where there are many thermal facilities and Thermal Tourism opportunities.
7. The desire of chronic patients, the elderly and the disabled to go to other environments and to be treated,
8. The desire of people with drugs and different addictions to be in different or more suitable environments,
9. The person's desire to hold on to life and to live.

As a result, health tourism is very diverse and includes many reasons. The main reason is the type of tourism made to regain health in a different country with better opportunities, and it is a rapidly rising sector.

Health Tourism in Turkey

In our country, there are many JCI accredited health institutions accredited in international standards. Private, public and university hospitals, especially in Istanbul and Ankara, are equipped with the highest technology in the world.

In many hospitals in Turkey, high-tech health services are provided in oncological treatments, cardiovoskilar surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, aesthetic surgery, eye and dental. Cyberknife, robotic surgery, MR services, bone marrow and organ transplantation can be performed in these hospitals.

Within the body of the health tourism department of the Ministry of Health, translation services are available 24/7 in Arabic, English, German and Russian languages, 112 in case of emergency, 184 in case of complaints and international patients in hospitals.

All doctors have to have professional liability insurance and in case of any medical error or malpractice, the patient is instantly compensated by the insurance. All of our hospitals serve according to national accreditation criteria and are inspected twice a year.

All transactions and coordination related to health tourism are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health as per the law. All of the people living in Turkey have compulsory health insurance and can receive health services from both private hospitals and public and university hospitals.

In addition, as thermal tourism, Turkey is the seventh in the world in terms of resources, and in the first place in Europe. Well-equipped and well-established thermal hotels have started to be built rapidly in this area. Many incentives are available to investors. As a result, we offer the country's climate, natural beauties, historical and cultural regions, western-standard health services and thermals in our hospitals to all people living around us, just as we offer our own people. We invite you to our country as a healing door for a healthy life.

Health Tourism Statistics

Some statistics about health tourism are given below:

In the Field of Medical Tourism:

Patients coming to our country from abroad and their branches are as follows.
Number of Foreign Patients Visiting Public-Private Hospitals in 2021

Countries:

Germany, Netherlands, France, Turkish Republics, Austria and Middle East Countries. 70% came from these countries.

Rates of Foreign Patients Coming to Public Private Hospitals in 2021

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

Branches:

Ophthalmology, Dental treatment,  Orthopedics, Cardiology, Oncology, Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery, 80% of them came to these branches. 

NEW ERA IN HEALTH TOURISM

Great strides have been made in the health sector in Turkey. Thanks to a series of reforms, the quality and efficiency of the health system have increased.

In addition to public health services, private health services have also started to develop rapidly in recent years.