Turkish Medicine Facts

Turkey is one of the most popular countries for tourists. But it is famous not only for its hot climate and excellent hotels. The medical system in the state is also well developed, as evidenced by the large number of clinics that have received international JCI accreditation.

A distinctive advantage of Turkish medicine is the availability of services. For example, the cost of oncology treatment in Germany can reach 15,000 euros, and similar care in Turkish clinics is several times cheaper, but the final price, of course, depends on the particular clinic. Oddly enough, the cost of medical tourism was favorably affected by the devaluation of the national currency – the Turkish lira. It has fallen by more than 50% against the dollar, so prices for foreigners have dropped significantly.

In terms of innovation, treatment in Turkey is not inferior to the highest quality service in Israel. This is especially true for oncological diseases. In Turkey, there are institutions that use modern devices for cancer treatment: the Da Vinci robot, gamma and cyberknife. Treatment of common ailments, like influenza, migraine, osteochondrosis, is also at a high level. Therefore, there is no doubt about the quality of medical service in Turkey, despite the lower price.

The high level of state support for medical programs testifies in favor of Turkish medicine. About 10% of GDP is spent on improving existing technologies and methods of treatment. In terms of quality, Turkish medicine ranks 25th in the world – which is a fairly high indicator.

Turkish medicine is free for local residents. Foreigners, in case of obtaining a residence permit, can also count on free services in local clinics. At the same time, one can hope for free treatment of not only common diseases, but also serious illnesses. There is no quota system here, health insurance covers most of the costs of medical services.

Turkish hospitals are equipped with the latest technology. There is everything for a comfortable pastime of patients. The rooms are equipped with beds on a remote control, there is a plasma TV, a refrigerator. The final equipment of the rooms depends on the particular institution, but they still provide the maximum comfort for tourists.

The food in the clinics is good. The diet is varied and consists of the main microelements and vitamins necessary for the full development of the body. It serves cheeses, olives, bread, milk, etc.

The costs of drugs prescribed by a doctor are covered by the state if it is a public clinic. In private clinics, you have to pay for them. At the same time, the cost of medicines in Turkey is lower than in many European countries.

But Turkish medicine also has disadvantages.

First, the main calculation is made to discharge the patient from the clinic as soon as possible. On the one hand, this is good – doctors try to cure the disease immediately, and not keep the patient in the clinic for months. But the factor of medical error cannot be completely excluded in this case – for some diseases, this practice harms, rather than helps, treatment.

The second is that they can take money for transporting a patient to a clinic. Therefore, an ambulance should be called only in cases where emergency care is really required, and this service should not be abused.