Tourists with Bandages on Their Heads Brought Billions of Dollars to Turkey's Economy.

Medical tourism in Turkey has become extremely popular, gathering a record number of visitors - 2 million last year. One of the most popular treatments has become the hair transplant procedure. Turkey successfully competes in medical tourism due to the high quality of medical services and experienced doctors.

According to official statistics, the number of medical tourists visiting Turkey has increased to 2 million in 2024. This is significantly more than 1.4 million in 2023 and 1.38 million in 2022. Such growth indicates successful development and expansion of medical services in the country. From medical tourism, Turkey earned about 10 billion dollars last year, and the Ministry of Health plans to increase this income to 12 billion this year.

The medical services provided in Turkey include plastic surgery and hair transplant. Doctors in Turkey, especially those involved in hair transplant, are highly qualified. Many patients from Europe and the Middle East choose Turkey due to competitive prices for medical services compared to Europe.

Attracting More Medical Tourists

According to press information, the number of tourists seeking medical treatment in Turkey will continue to grow. The country has already developed special flights for transporting patients from Europe and Asia who have undergone operations in Turkish clinics. In addition, tourists are provided with special insurance in case of complications, which will increase their numbers.

According to a project developed by the Ministry of Health, foreign patients arriving in Turkey for medical services must have insurance in case of complications and travel medical insurance. These measures aim to protect and ensure the safety of patients, as well as regulate the sector.

Medical institutions and agencies offering medical tourism services must be responsible for the quality of medical services. Moreover, they must be authorized by the international company USHAŞ, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Health, and use the official HealthTürkiye logo. To improve service, agencies should also have a 24/7 information center in two languages.

Furthermore, medical institutions and agencies involved in international medical tourism must have websites translated into other languages. The country plans to conduct stringent checks on all medical establishments to ensure high service quality.

Recently, a scandal occurred in Istanbul regarding the activities of a criminal group of doctors who illegally transferred newborns to private clinics. Therefore, the state is taking measures to avoid similar problems in the future.