Medical Tourism to Turkey Grows Significantly

10 February 2009 | In the context of the world financial crisis, cheaper treatments, combined with vacation opportunities following recovery, attract an ever increasing number of foreign tourists to Turkey.

In 2007, 150,000 foreigners sought medical treatment in the country, according to the Hürriyet newspaper. Last year, they increased by 40 per cent, reaching 200,000. Most of the travelling patients come from the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium and France. There is also an increase in treatment-seeking tourists from the Middle East and even neighbouring countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, which are health tourism destinations themselves, as BalkanTravellers.com reported.

“Europeans prefer Turkey mostly for plastic surgery, in vitro fertilization, dental treatment and laser eye surgery. These surgeries cost an average of 5,000 euro in Europe. In Turkey, the average cost for such surgeries varies between 500 to 900 euro,” Dr. Aydın said.

The global economic crisis has played a major role in the increase, according to Dr. Dursun Aydın, president of the Association of Improving Health Tourism, cited by the publication.

“Since the peak of the crisis in October, there has been a significant rise in the number of foreign patients we have treated. The patients that get medical care in Turkey do not just head back. They stay a while at the four-five star hotels and treat themselves to a quick getaway,” Selin Peker, vice general manager of The World Eye Group added.

Medical care packages provided for foreigners usually cover accommodation and vacation costs, Dr. Reşat Bahat, chairman of the Association of Private Hospitals and Health Organizations, told Hürriyet. “The hospitals provide foreign patients an opportunity to tour the city where they are receiving treatment. They get treated, rest and have fun, all as part of the package deal. That is what they find attractive,” Bahat said.