Why choose Turkey?

Nearly a million people can’t be wrong – or we would have heard about it!

Turkey has the world’s third-largest medical tourism industry, after the US and South Korea. Thousands of people have had successful medical procedures, received top-quality care and regained their health or well-being.

High-quality medical care, a short waiting time, excellent transport systems and the wonderful countryside all contribute to the success of medical tourism in Turkey. So let us look more closely at these attributes.

Quality of the medical treatment

Turkey has achieved a high number of JCI accredited hospitals, there are over 50 across Turkey. To qualify for accreditation these hospitals have had to reach the same standards as our best UK hospitals reach.  JCI stands for “Joint Commission International” – and to gain this prestigious award a high standard is required.

You can find a wide range of expert treatments in Turkey, unlike some countries which offer medical tourism where only a few projects are offered. Some of the areas they specialise on include:

• Ophthalmology
• Dentistry
• Cardiology
• Transplants
• Plastic Surgery
• Hair transplants
• In-vitro fertilisation (IVF),

Many of the highly skilled doctors have trained in Europe or America – but choose to work in Turkey.

Transport

Istanbul Airport is one of the world’s largest airports. It is geared to cater for around 200 million passengers every year with around 300 direct flights worldwide. For people in Britain, Turkey is easy to reach - about a 4-hour flight from London to the modern airport in Istanbul.  The new airport has only recently been opened, and it means that travel arrangements are smooth and pleasant. This makes Turkish healthcare more accessible to millions of people worldwide – including the British. As a bonus, Turkish Airlines will even offer you a discounted price for your flight if your journey is for medical reasons.

A modern airport and well-managed transport to and from the airport are other advantages Turkey has to offer the health visitors. No one wants to be hanging around waiting for a taxi that may not come or a bus that is late, especially if you are feeling a little fragile.

Quick response time

Because the authorities know the value of medical tourism in their country, they give importance to their foreign patients too. You can get a procedure scheduled in as quickly as two weeks compared to a waiting time of almost 18 months for some procedures in Britain.

Government support

An industry official for the healthcare sector in Turkey put the estimated number of health tourists visiting the country in 2018 at 700,000. Since it generates an income of around £2.8 billion, it pays the Turkish authorities to ensure their medical guests are looked after! Around 32% of the patients are medical tourists.

In fact, so important is the medical tourism industry to the country that it has become a crucial part of the 2023 vision – goals set by the government. At present, Turkey ranks fourth in the world for healthcare tourism – and they are looking to aim higher.

The government invests in healthcare to maintain the high standards across the sector. It has the PPP model (private-public-partnership), and the government upgrades the infrastructure while private hospitals also invest in improving the health facilities. This maintains the high quality of the Turkish healthcare system

The cost

Generally speaking, surgery in Turkey is cheaper than private treatment in the UK. Even when you have private health insurance the monthly cost of this soon adds up.

Cosmetic surgery in Turkey is about 70% cheaper than in the UK. When you add up the costs of surgery, travel and accommodation, it is usually cheaper to travel to Turkey than have private treatment in the UK. And certainly quicker than joining the NHS waiting list. You might even indulge in a holiday at the same time!

Beautiful country – why not holiday!

Many people benefit from the healing waters of the geothermal springs – numerous inTurkey, not to mention the clear air and calming scenery. The geothermal springs of Turkey are the top choice for people coming from Europe (including the UK) and ranks in the top seven in the world. Turkey is a great place to relax, recuperate and recover from medical procedures. The aftercare in Turkey is second to none, and many visitors combine a medical procedure with a short holiday.

COVID-19

The coronavirus has disrupted so many things and it may impinge on your experience in Turkey. You will need to ensure you are up-to-date with the latest travel requirements. You may need to return to a  specified airport. You may need extra medication if you have it overstay your visit – so make sure you carry a suitable supply since British-issued prescriptions are not accepted in pharmacies in Turkey. Hopefully, this paragraph will soon be superfluous!

Conclusion

Turkey is a beautiful country with much to offer. The medical tourism industry is well supported and important to the country – they treat their guests well.

Over 50 JCI accredited hospitals, well-trained and skilled doctors, top-quality nursing and aftercare, and even geothermal springs to aid your recovery. The lower medical costs, together with shorter (or almost none-existent) waiting times, make this attractive for those who are busy – and those who are suffering.

While the Turkish authorities have made sure everything runs as smoothly as possible for their medical tourists, setting everything up can be a chore you don’t need – so see how to leave the hassle to the experts for a safe and pleasant stay. For further information, reach us out via link here and our friendly staff will be happy to advise you.