Healthcare in Turkey

Taking a look at the standard and availability of health care in Turkey for expats

The standard and availability of healthcare in Turkey varies massively from region to region and from town to town with most large towns and all major cities having a variety of state and private healthcare facilities.

In the largest cities and resorts in Turkey such as Istanbul, Izmir or Bodrum for example, there are also often English and German speaking clinics as well - and because even private healthcare in Turkey is so affordable, Turkey is developing a new mini-economic sector on the back of medical tourism…

Anyone planning on moving to Turkey permanently should seriously consider taking out expatriate medical insurance such as that offered by the likes of American Express or Bupa for example.  This is because even emergency care at a state run hospital will have to be paid for by foreign citizens. 

In addition to this fact, state run hospitals often suffer from overcrowding and lack of funding in the extreme, meaning that care is basic and facilities are limited.  Don’t panic though, this does mean that in an emergency you will be looked after, but if you are going in for anything else you will be far more comfortable in a private clinic or hospital.

The other disadvantage with state run hospitals is that they do not have the levels of nursing care that one may be used to; rather families are expected to take on much of the auxiliary work such as changing bedding and providing emotional care and support for the patient – this can be difficult for expatriate individuals and couples who are living in Turkey without their families for example, and so the preferred solution is usually a private hospital which is more on a par with western European standards.

Remember that all health insurance schemes have exemptions and limits, so speak to an adviser from your preferred insurance company about what you will be covered for in Turkey before taking out a specific policy…you need to be sure you will be well looked after in the event of an emergency, that you can be repatriated should the need arise, that any specific ailments or illnesses you are concerned about are covered and that you will not have to pay a massive excess if you do need to see a doctor, dentist or specialist medical practitioner.

As mentioned earlier, Turkey has a new micro-economic sector developing which is based on medical tourism.  There is demand for care from those requiring relatively straightforward procedures as well as those seeking fertility treatment, cosmetic surgery or an operation for which there is a significant waiting list in the UK or mainland Europe such as hip or knee replacements.  Some of the best hospitals in Turkey are the university hospitals and they can be a great place to start for anyone requiring a specific operation as often the best surgeons will be affiliated with one of the main university hospitals such as Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty Hospital in Istanbul, Ege University Hospital in Izmir or Hacettepe University Hospital in Ankara.

And finally, if you do fall ill in Turkey you could be waiting a long time for an ambulance as they are in short supply – therefore the quickest way to get treatment is to have someone drive you or to take a taxi.  If this is not an option then the telephone number for emergencies is 112.