Leading Countries and Türkiye’s Position

Costa Rica and Cuba have become a “brand” in IVF and eye surgery. Hungary is among the first countries that come to mind for dental treatment, and Belgium for aesthetic surgery and obesity treatment. The country with the largest share of the market is India, which welcomes an average of 150,000 health tourists a year; the sector there grows by 30 per cent every year, and the country’s income in this field was expected to reach £1.2 billion in 2012. The reason for this success is that they spot niche areas very quickly and invest in them, and can offer low-cost alternatives without compromising on quality of service.

The countries that favour Türkiye most include Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and the United Kingdom. On average, 200,000 health tourists come to Türkiye every year. Operators say they prefer health tourists, who spend an average of €500 per person, because of the profit margin they leave.

The world-standard infrastructure of private hospitals, the training and experience of health care providers — above all doctors — price advantages and unique natural and historical riches are Türkiye’s strengths in the health tourism sector. The sector’s lack of good organisation and the confusion in the system, which has not yet been resolved, are listed as shortcomings that can be overcome in a short time. Another shortcoming that prevents Türkiye from getting the share of international health tourism it deserves is that it cannot effectively promote its resources and advantages.

One point needs to be stressed: research shows that lowering prices at the expense of quality in health tourism does not increase the number of customers.

It is a well-known fact that, especially after the events of 11 September, people from Arab and Middle Eastern countries have had visa problems for security reasons. For people who must go abroad for treatment, Türkiye is therefore a golden opportunity. For health tourists from the East who previously regarded Türkiye as a second choice, Türkiye has now become their first choice.

Source: Kobifinans magazine, issue 13