Health tourism means traveling to a country of your choice and getting medical treatment while spending very little money on the whole process. Bonus – we get to visit a new country and relax. So, both physical health and mental health win here. For this win-win situation, people are currently exploring health tourism. Recently a TikTok video went viral on Twitter in which a woman explored health tourism in Turkiye, getting a full body checkup, meeting specialists and visiting a top hospital in the country – all this for $810. Sounds incredible?
Brian Ellis shared the details of his medical checkup in a TikTok video. From cardiology checkups to bone density to eye exams, the TikToker did it all in one day and for less than $850. He chose a top hospital in Turkiye after extensive research and went there to speak to health experts. Watch the video here.
Also read: Medical tourism in India: Major destinations, scenarios and all you need to know
This draws our attention to the recent boom in health tourism culture in Turkey.
What is Türkiye doing right in healthcare?
Turkey’s recent surge in health tourism is due to the commendable way the country has controlled the COVID-19 outbreak. This has further improved the health tourism revenue prospects in the country. With its diverse healthcare services including beauty procedures, hair and organ transplant facilities, Turkiye offers a promising future in health tourism.
According to the country’s state-owned International Health Services (USHAS) agency, more than 670,000 foreigners came to Turkey for medical treatment in 2021. A year later, the number rose to more than 1.25 million, an increase of 88%. These figures remained similarly high in the first six months of 2023.
Turkish healthcare facilities are generating considerable revenue from this international business, totaling more than $2 billion (€1.85 billion) in 2022. Revenue declined slightly in the first half of 2023, although experts believe this was mainly due to Turkey’s devastating February earthquake, which claimed more than 50,000 lives.
According to a report published by Arabian Gulf Business Insight in April, 2024, “Turkiye’s health tourism sector generated revenues of $2.3 billion in 2023, data released by the trade ministry shows. Healthcare exports grew from $1.9 billion in 2022 to $2.3 billion in 2023, driven by an influx of 1.4 million health tourists, placing Turkiye seventh in the global health tourism rankings.”
Travel and Healthcare Merged in Türkiye
Turkey is known for its charming locations, picturesque beaches, historical sites, and delicious cuisine – all these things make it one of the top countries on every traveler’s travel list. With the recent offerings in healthcare facilities, people keep a day for health checkup and then travel and explore the country.
Also read: Türkiye travel alert: Tips for taking a cruise to the Turquoise Coast
