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

Health tourism is travelling from the country of residence to another country for treatment purposes in order to regain health. People travelling for this purpose are called "health tourists".

Health tourism should not be considered only as a type of tourism for treatment in hospitals. All kinds of tourism activities that offer a healthy life are considered as health tourism. This type of tourism is analysed under three main headings:

1. Medical Tourism (Treatment, surgery, etc. in hospitals)

2. Thermal Tourism (Rehabilitation and recreation services in thermal facilities)

3. Elderly and Disabled Tourism (long-term stays in geriatric treatment centres or in combination with social activities)

Main Reasons for Health Tourism

1. Lack of high-tech health services in their country or lack of professional human resources.

2. The desire to have a holiday with the treatment.

3. Health services are expensive in their own countries.

4. The desire to receive better quality health care.

5. Not wanting the surgery to be known in their own country (cosmetic surgery, infertility treatment, etc.).

6. Lack of geographical and climatic conditions for holidays.

7. The desire of chronically ill, elderly and disabled people to be treated in different settings.

8. Seeking a more appropriate setting for drug or addiction treatment.

9. Winter's will to hold on to life and the will to live.

As a result, health tourism is a rapidly developing sector that is carried out for a wide variety of reasons.

Health Tourism in Turkey

There are 42 hospitals in Turkey with JCI accreditation at international standards. Private, public and university hospitals, especially in Istanbul and Ankara, are equipped with the world's highest technology. Advanced technology services are offered in areas such as oncology, cardiovascular surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, aesthetic surgery, eye and dental surgery. Applications such as Cyberknife, robotic surgery, MRI, bone marrow and organ transplantation are available.

The health tourism unit of the Ministry of Health provides 24/7 services in Arabic, English, German and Russian. 112 Emergency and 184 complaint lines and interpretation services are available. Doctors have professional liability insurance, providing patients with a compensation guarantee in case of medical error.

Moreover, Turkey ranks first in Europe and seventh in the world in thermal tourism. Various incentives are offered in this sector and the number of thermal hotels is increasing rapidly.

Health Tourism Statistics

Tıp turizmi kapsamında Türkiye’ye gelen hastalar genellikle Almanya, Hollanda, Fransa, Orta Doğu ülkeleri gibi bölgelerden %70 oranında talep görmektedir. Branşlar arasında ise göz, diş, ortopedi, kardiyoloji, onkoloji, plastik cerrahi ve beyin cerrahisi başta gelmektedir.

New Era in Health Tourism

Reforms in the last 9 years have increased the quality and efficiency of the health system. Turkey ranks second in the world with 42 health institutions with JCI accreditation. Turkey provides services at European standards with its modern hospitals, specialised doctors and technological infrastructure.

Invitation to Turkey

With its geographical location, natural beauties, historical and cultural richness, Turkey is an ideal centre for health tourism. Our country has become a centre of attraction with its medical and thermal tourism resources, spa and wellness facilities, quality and affordable tourism packages.

Do not go far for health

Turkey is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Central Asia and is preferred for its easy accessibility. The best service is offered to health tourists by combining the tradition of hospitality with the understanding of medical tourism.

The Last Word in Health Tourism

Turkey is on its way to become a leading country in health tourism with its trained human resources, foreign language speaking healthcare professionals, affordable prices and advanced technology. Demands for plastic surgery, heart surgeries and thermal treatments are increasing rapidly and Turkey is a candidate for world leadership in this field.