Turkey has seen a whopping 23 million tourists coming from around the globe for medical tourism each and every year.
With a growing number of foreign patients each year, this Mediterranean hotspot has become one of the top ten medical tourism destinations in the world.
With treatment costs coming in at 50% to 70% less than in Europe, it’s an attractive destination.
In 2021 alone, the 640,000 health tourists visiting Turkey have brought in €1 billion in revenue to centers around the country, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute.
After the deaths of 22 British medical tourists, however, the UK government has raised a red flag.
British Medical Tourism Issues in Turkey
According to government officials, “cosmetic surgery, dental procedures, and cardiac surgery are the most common procedures that medical tourists undertake.” Though most people return home safe and sound, there has been an increase in the number of incidents in recent years.
“The standard of medical facilities and available treatments vary widely around the world. As such, British nationals considering undertaking medical treatment in Turkey should carry out their own research; it is unwise to rely upon private companies that have a financial interest in arranging your medical treatment abroad,” British officials said. “We are aware of 22 British nationals who have died in Turkey since January 2019 following medical tourism visits.”
Medical Tourism Risks
Up to 250,000 foreign tourists travel to Turkey each year for dental work alone, according to the Turkish Dental Association. While badly done dental procedures rarely escalate into life-threatening issues, botched work can cause long-term and costly issues.
The key risks of any procedure often revolve around antibiotic resistance, infection, and the general lack of follow-up care. In Turkey and other medical tourism hotspots, there is always a risk of unregulated operators and a lack of ordinances.
Finding Safe Medical Tourism in Turkey
The UK Foreign Office has advised travelers to do their research before traveling to Turkey for medical and dental procedures. It is crucial to ensure your facilities have been approved by Turkey’s Ministry of Health.
“It is unwise to rely upon private companies that have a financial interest in arranging your medical treatment abroad,” British officials have advised. To fully understand the facilities, it’s important to review your options. The Health Turkiye portal website shows a complete list of medical providers that have been approved by the Ministry of Health. Travel Health Pro also offer a complete array of resources for anyone looking to do medical tourism.
