Health tourism is the phenomenon of individuals traveling to other countries to receive medical treatment, based on need or desire.

It has become one of the fastest developing sectors in the world due to the reasons stated below:

• Inadequacy or poor quality of health services in one's own country.
• Long waiting lists in the state hospitals.
• High costs of health services in the private healthcare industry.
• Search for better service quality.
• Search for a better climate or living environment.

The internet and social media make it easier for patients to access information about anything regarding treatment options, doctor backgrounds, patient experience and commentaries, quality standards, utilized equipment and materials etc. They are provided with personalized assistance before they travel and informed comprehensively during the decision stage. Our patients choose us to make their health tourism experience safe and trustworthy, as we guide and accompany them throughout the journey.

Türkiye’s Place and Importance in Health Tourism

In the first three quarters of 2023, a total of 1,026,492 people visited Turkey to receive healthcare services. The main factors enabling Türkiye to be one of the most preferred countries in health tourism can be listed as:

• Türkiye is a crossroad located in the middle of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the CIS region. Istanbul is easily accessible from almost any country with direct flights.
• The Turkish Ministry of Health is very strict with quality standards applied to healthcare institutions, therefore, even the hospitals in B and C-class segments are as qualified as internationally accredited hospitals.
• Türkiye is famous for the hospitality of its people. It is in our nature to host our guests in the most perfect way possible, Professionals working in the service industries be it healthcare, accommodation, food industry, or others, prioritize the happiness of their guests.
• Türkiye is very rich in natural beauty, historical attractions, and cultural heritage. For patients who seek to travel while having their medical procedures, Türkiye is an excellent choice with alternatives that address all budgets.
• Türkiye has a strong infrastructure for handling all the needs of health tourists from all over the world with different preferences, including transport, accommodation, hospital admission, food and beverages, shopping, and tourism.

Predictions for the Future of Health Tourism

As of 2023, according to TUIK data, there are approximately 145,000 doctors, 1,300,000 health personnel, 300,000 nurses, 1450 hospitals, 240,000 patient beds, 35,000 intensive care beds and the number of organ transplants in the last 20 years is around 25,000 in Turkey. In light of these data, it can be said that our country is in a good position and is still developing.

On the other hand, health tourism is expected to grow further in the following years. It is estimated that the world population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. This population growth will increase the demand for healthcare services and their quality. Increasing demand for health services, especially among the elderly, will contribute to the growth of health tourism.

With the yearly increasing treatment costs, patients are in search of convenient alternatives for treatment. Medical tourism will continue to grow as a result of this trend, as it offers patients better quality and cost-effective treatment options.

Easier transportation and communication enable patients to travel to other countries easily. For example, the proliferation of low-cost airlines allows patients to travel to other countries at affordable prices. These developments contribute to the growth of health tourism.

Required Conditions for Health Tourism

Institutions or organizations offering health tourism services must meet certain conditions to maintain both the quality of healthcare services and the satisfaction of patients. These conditions can be categorized as reliable technological infrastructure, well-educated and experienced specialist doctors and trained personnel, and high-quality service standards.

Health tourism institutions should be able to answer patients’ needs not only about their medical treatment processes but also about matters such as transportation and accommodation. To legally provide all health tourism services, institutions get an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate from the government.