Table of Contents:
- Introduction to Medical Tourism
- Tourism is fine, but have you heard of Medical Tourism?
- A question might arise in our minds: Why travel to another country for medical tourism?
- The most popular medical procedures in Turkey are:
Napoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of the French, once said, “If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”
Wow! This quote truly highlights the significance of Istanbul, doesn’t it?
At this moment, let me remind you that Istanbul is situated in none other than Turkey. It stands as the largest city in all of Europe, deeply established in the most influential chapters of history.
Istanbul is a vibrant city with a significant economic enclave. By “enclave,” I mean that Istanbul is a portion of territory surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct. Istanbul is not only a financial, logistical, and commercial hub but also a well-known tourist hub.
Tourism is fine, but have you heard of Medical Tourism?
Without further ado, let’s learn a bit more about it.
In recent years, a unique form of tourism known as Medical Tourism has gained popularity worldwide, with Turkey being a prominent destination for this purpose.
If you’ve never come across the term, medical tourism refers to the act of travelling outside one’s home country to receive medical treatment. In fact, Turkey ranks among the top 10 countries for medical tourism.
Izmir is another popular city in Turkey for medical procedures, but Istanbul is the top destination for medical tourism. It’s like getting your treatments done while you’re on vacation.
A question might arise in our minds: Why travel to another country for medical tourism?
1. Cost
One reason is the cost. especially in Turkey, becomes the preferred option when lacking health insurance. In Istanbul, treatments and procedures are considerably more affordable – significantly, up to 50-70% less than EU prices.
2. Waiting Lists
Another reason is the prolonged waiting lists in many countries like Spain and the United Kingdom. People choose a better and quicker option without dying of patience. Fair enough!
3. Quality
The third factor is the quality of medical services. Turkish leading medical centres are acclaimed for spearheading medical research and advancements.
As tourists chase summer holiday in Turkey, a surprising guest is joining the party, medical tourism, making sure everyone leaves not only sun-kissed but also in top-notch shape! People choose Turkey for their medical needs due to the lower prices, high quality of treatment and care, and packages available that combine many facilities.
Medical tourism contributes significantly more to a country’s economy than regular holiday tourism. Consequently, it stands as one of Turkey’s primary sectors of focus and development.
The most popular medical procedures in Turkey are:
- Dental Procedures
- Breast surgery
- Hair transplants
- Botox and fillers
- Rhinoplasty (nose job)
- Liposuction and weight loss surgery
Approximately a million people chose Turkey as their destination in 2022, collectively investing around 2 billion U.S. dollars in hair transplant procedures. As affirmed by the head of the Turkish Health Tourism Association, the cumulative revenue generated from tourism on medical stood at approximately 4 billion U.S. dollars.
However, this isn’t without controversy. It is important, however, to undertake thorough before choosing a clinic and undergoing any medical procedure, not just in Turkey, but anywhere you decide.
Always consult your personal doctor before embarking on any health-related ventures!
