Health Tourism in Turkey: Everything You Need to Know
In recent years, Turkey has come to the forefront not only due to its historical, cultural, and natural richness, but also because of its health tourism potential, which has attracted worldwide attention. Turkey has become one of the most attractive destinations for international health tourists due to its advanced medical infrastructure, experienced healthcare personnel, affordable pricing policy, and tourist facilities. In this article, we will provide you with all the details you are curious about health tourism in Turkey, together with current data, legal regulations and sectoral predictions. So, why should you choose Turkey as a medical tourism destination? Let's explore together 👇
Why is Turkey Attractive for Health Tourism?
There are many structural and economic reasons behind Turkey's prominence in the field of health tourism. First of all, the country is geographically located at the intersection of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Thanks to this strategic location, patients from different countries can reach Turkey in a short time and with relatively less cost. In addition, health institutions in Turkey are equipped with highly technologically advanced devices and medical infrastructure. While many private hospitals are growing with government-supported incentives, the number of facilities with international accreditations such as JCI is increasing every year.
Moreover, healthcare services in Turkey are not only of high quality, but also 50 to 80 per cent cheaper than in European countries, the USA or Gulf countries. This causes people who want to receive health services to have a cost advantage and to have a holiday with the same budget.
Growth of Health Tourism in Turkey in Figures
Turkey's health tourism sector shows steady growth over the years. While approximately 730,000 health tourists were served in 2021, this figure reached 1.38 million in 2022, 1.54 million in 2023 and approximately 1.5 million at the end of 2024. This increase manifested itself not only in the number of patients but also in revenues. Revenue, which was around $2 billion in 2021, has exceeded $3 billion as of 2024.
The target set for 2025 is quite ambitious: 2 million patients and $12 billion in health tourism revenues. In the long term, Turkey is expected to be among the top three countries in the world health tourism market by 2030. According to international reports, Turkey's health tourism market could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% between 2024 and 2034, from $3.97 billion to $7.18 billion.
The Most Preferred Treatment Types in Turkey
Turkey offers a wide range of services in health tourism, not just in one area. However, some treatment types stand out in terms of demand. One of these areas is hair transplantation. Turkey has become a brand in hair transplantation in the world. While nearly one million hair transplantation procedures were performed in 2022, this number has increased even more as we approach the end of 2025. Advanced techniques such as FUE and DHI used in hair transplantation are offered at much more affordable prices and of high quality in Turkey.
Another popular area is aesthetic and plastic surgery. Rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, breast aesthetics and liposuction are among the operations that are in high demand by European and Middle Eastern tourists. The level of technical expertise of surgeons in Turkey, hygiene conditions of hospitals and diversity in the field of aesthetics make Turkey a centre of attraction in this field.
In addition, dental treatments are one of the most demanded services, especially by tourists from countries such as England and Germany. Procedures such as dental implants, zirconium coating, and canal treatment are performed with modern technology in Turkey and are offered at much more affordable costs compared to Western countries. In 2023, more than 400 thousand foreign patients preferred Turkey for dental treatment alone and this area is expected to reach a volume of 5 billion dollars by the end of 2025.
Advanced medical procedures such as organ transplantation, eye treatments (cataract, laser), obesity surgery and in vitro fertilisation are among Turkey's strengths in health tourism.
Price Advantage and Package Systems
One of the most important factors that make Turkey attractive in terms of health tourism is the price/performance ratio. For example, a hair transplantation procedure, which costs an average of $15,000-20,000 in the USA, can be performed in the range of $3,000-4,000 in Turkey. While dental implants cost up to 3,000 dollars in the USA, they can be performed at a cost of 600-1,500 dollars in Turkey. Similar rates apply in aesthetic surgery procedures.
In addition, hospitals and clinics usually offer treatment services with package systems. In these packages, in addition to the treatment, accommodation, airport transfer, medicines and in some cases city tours are also included. In other words, for health tourists, this is not only a medical trip; it is also a kind of health holiday.
Quality Standards and Legal Framework
Turkey positions health tourism not only as a source of commercial income, but also as a strategic sector that strengthens the country's global image. For this reason, great importance is attached to quality standards. Hundreds of hospitals in Turkey have internationally recognised certificates from accreditation bodies such as JCI (Joint Commission International). In addition, doctors, nurses and technical teams are regularly trained.
Enacted in 2017, the ‘Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health’ imposed serious obligations on all service providers in the sector to be licensed, inspected and provide services following standards. In addition, through institutions such as USHAŞ (International Health Services Inc.), affiliated to the Ministry of Health, Turkey carries out an effective promotion campaign with its health tourism brand ‘Heal in Turkey’.
Government Supports and Incentives
Public supports play a major role in the growth of health tourism in Turkey. The state offers many incentives and supports for both health institutions and health tourists. For example, 60% of the flight tickets for international patients can be covered by the state. This support can reach up to 36,000 TL per person per year.
In addition, health tourism companies can benefit from VAT exemption, overseas promotion and advertising support, interpreter salary support and digital marketing grants. In this context, more than 1,700 companies benefited from incentives between 2012 and 2024. In 2023, the incentive budget for the sector was increased by 281 per cent compared to the previous year.
Potential Risks and Cautions
Although Turkey offers great advantages in health tourism, there are also some important risks to be aware of. The most important issues that patients should pay attention to are: whether the doctor and clinic are licensed, sterilisation conditions, support services offered in case of complications and health insurance coverage. It is vital not to compromise on the quality of health while turning to cheap prices.
Turkey's Future Goals in Medical Tourism
Turkey aims to transform health tourism into a more integrated and inclusive structure in the future. In this direction, areas such as ‘medical tourism, wellness tourism, thermal tourism and elderly care’ are evaluated together. In addition, with digital health, tele-health and remote monitoring systems, Turkey aims to carry these services across borders.
While 2 million health tourists and $12 billion in revenues are among the 2025 targets, the target for 2028 and beyond is to exceed the $20 billion mark. In line with this vision, promotion and service diversification are being carried out especially for the Gulf countries, Europe, Central Asia and North Africa markets.
Why Choose Health Tourism in Turkey?
Turkey not only offers quality healthcare services at affordable prices, but also aims to be permanent in the world health tourism league with clinics that comply with international standards, experienced specialists, effective promotional strategies and strong public support. Individuals who will prefer Turkey for health tourism should be meticulous in choosing doctors and hospitals, check licences, look for transparency in package services and, if possible, benefit from the experiences of people who have had previous procedures.
Health tourism in Turkey offers a great opportunity for those who want to meet both health and holiday needs at the same time. With the right planning and reliable service providers, this process can turn into a positive experience that can change your life.
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