Treatment abroad: Turkey 

Turkey is a burgeoning destination for medical tourism, offering top-notch healthcare services in fields such as cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and fertility treatments, all set against the backdrop of its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes.

Turkey has benefited significantly from the growth of health tourism in Europe. The country, well known as a relaxing holiday destination is now becoming increasingly popular as a medical tourist’s haven for restorative or cosmetic dentistry or cosmetic surgery.

Why consider Turkey for medical tourism?

Turkey is a country with a captivating culture and history, warm friendly people and a pleasant climate with refreshing breezes from the Aegean.

Turkey’s private hospitals and clinics offer an affordable solution in a vacation-like environment. This, in itself induces a more positive result as medical tourists immediately feel more relaxed about the treatment they are undertaking.

Clinics/hospitals are typically located in the country’s capital, Istanbul, the city where east meets west and Izmir the third largest city in Turkey on the Aegean coast, conveniently located for accommodation, shopping and sightseeing. Guests staying in Izmir, for example, can enjoy a few days relaxing on esme or Kusadasi beaches before/after treatment or take in some of the remains of ancient civilisations with a trip to Ephesus or the classical City of Pergamum. In Istanbul they can soak up the atmosphere in the old city are where churches, mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars abound.

Cosmetic surgery is popular in Turkey and surgeons work in technologically advanced operating theatres. A rhinoplasty (nose re-shaping) in Turkey would cost €2000* while a facelift can be arranged from €3250*. (*Prices supplied by Ota &Jinemed Hospital, Istanbul)

Reasons to choose Turkey

Well established medical tourism market

Advanced technology and quality facilities

Specialise in cosmetic surgery and dentistry

Many clinics in Istanbul and on the Aegean coast

Superb weather all year round

Welcoming culture where nothing is too much trouble

The healthcare system in Turkey

With a high level of expertise in Turkey’s private clinics and hospitals, doctors, dentists and surgeons are trained to the same high standards as the rest of Europe. The clinics and surgeries are modern and clean with state of the art equipment. What’s more, Turkey’s private dental facilities and clinics offer an affordable solution in a vacation-like environment. This, in itself induces a more positive result as guests immediately feel more relaxed about the treatment they are undertaking.

The healthcare system is quite complicated for residents, with many care plans and regulations. The Turkish system is a type of national health service, with all provision made for each person in Turkey, regardless of income. The hospital system is coordinated by the Turkish Ministry of Health.

The private sector in Turkey is strong and thriving and has better facilities and equipment than state-run hospitals and clinics. Most private hospitals that welcome medical tourists are in the capital, Istanbul, the city where east meets west and Izmir the third largest city in Turkey on the Aegean coast, conveniently located for accommodation, shopping and sightseeing.

Guests staying in Izmir, for example, can enjoy a few days relaxing on esme or Kusadasi beaches before/after treatment or take in some of the remains of ancient civilisations with a trip to Ephesus or the classical City of Pergamum. In Istanbul they can soak up the atmosphere in the old city are where churches, mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars abound.

Travel and accommodation in Turkey

Most international flights arrive at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport which is 20km from the city centre. Charter airlines however fly into the city’s other international airport; Sabiha Gokcen, near Pendik. There is a separate terminal at Ataturk for domestic routes, which Turkish Airlines serves along with others such as Atlas Jet. Izmir’s international airport is Adnan Menderes Airport, around 10 km from the city centre.

The best way to get from the airport into Istanbul centre is by taxi, and there is no need to negotiate a fee because they operate with meters. Alternatively, Havas run a shuttle bus service to and from the city centre from both the international and domestic terminals every half hour which takes around 40 minutes to Taksim Square (the centre of town). Istanbul has a small metro system as well as a very modern tramway (this is a very comfortable and quick way to get about town). Izmir also has a small metro network.

Getting around the country

You can travel to almost anywhere in the country by coach and there are a handful of intercity bus companies. Some of the leading ones are Varan, which is considered to be the superior bus company Kamil Koc and Ulusoy. All three run regular services from Istanbul’s main bus station.

For shorter distances, i.e., getting about the city consider a ‘Dolmus’ a shared taxi-come-mini-bus which is something of a tradition in Turkey. Following set routes, Dolmus buses are a very popular, cheap and easy way to get about, particularly to areas outside the city centre, but no good if you’re in a hurry as they only depart once they’re full!

The National Rail in Turkey is called TCCD (Turkish State Railways). Visit www.tcdd.gov.trfor information about rail routes, timetables and fares etc. There are direct connections into Izmir from Istanbul and Ankara.

If you’re keen to drive in Turkey then there are plenty of car hire options at airport arrivals although many visitors are put off by the high road accident rate and the fact that Turkey has only a few fast highways (the Trans European Motorway around Istanbul and Ankara and a motorway network around Izmir). Driving is on the right hand side.

As for accommodation a double en-suite room in a three star hotel in Istanbul costs from €35 to €60, and a four star from €70 to €100. The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (YTL) which was introduced in 2005 and there are approximately 2.7 YTL to €1. Many places will also accept Euro currency and GBP, but this is at the discretion of the owner.

About Turkey

Situated at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Turkey can lay serious claim to being the cradle of modern civilization, and it’s got more than its fair share of stunning historic sites to back that up.

Turkey’s history stretches back right back to Alexander the Great and beyond. In fact, the country’s highest mountain, Mount Ararat, is claimed to be the final resting place of Noah’s ark. The Trojans fought there, the Romans built huge cities and amphitheatres, and the country was host to not one, but two of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum at Harlicarnassus and the Temple of Artemis. Turkey claims the first university, the first coins and the first bank, as well as the world’s oldest established settlement at Catalhoyuk in Anatalia, dating back to 6,500 BC.

Today, Turkey is a modern, secular nation, with ambitions to join the European Union. It sits mainly in Asia, bordering Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Georgia, but also has a foothold in Europe, with the small Trace triangle across the Bosphorus bordering Bulgaria and Greece. The capital, Istanbul, uniquely sits on two different continents.

Turkey is, in essence, a vast peninsula, with the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean to the west and the Mediterranean to the south. Tourist activity tends to centre on the west and south coast resorts, while the mountainous interior and remote Kurdish areas of the east tend to be less open, or safe, for foreign tourists.

With long warm summers and a culture that welcomes guests as family, Turkey has been attracting visitors for millennia. Today, Turkey is described as the world’s largest open air museum, with outstanding sites such as the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, well worth a visit. Turkey also boasts many natural wonders too, including the fairytale ‘cotton castle’ rock formations of Pamukkale and countless natural springs with legendary ‘healing’ properties.

Holidaymakers can choose from the bright lights and late nights of resorts like Bodrum, or the more relaxed and sophisticated style of the lagoon at Oludeniz, with a huge range of alternatives in between. The truly cosmopolitan culture of Istanbul also has to be experienced, with its authentic bazaars, soaring minarets and delicious Ottoman cuisine.

Since the devaluation of the currency in 2005, which dropped six zeros from the end of every banknote, you will no longer be a Lira millionaire when you visit Turkey, but with such a wealth history and heritage, you’ll feel enriched by the trip.