Turkey: A Destination for Global Medical Tourism

Mohammed Kanboulat, the president of the Antalya International Association for Medical Tourism and Education, revealed that Turkey has attained a prestigious global status and has become a destination for visitors from various countries in medical tourism.

Kanboulat stated that his country has achieved its goals and raised its ambitions in medical tourism, becoming a "shining star" in the field.

The Turkish (non-governmental) association president noted that the country has assumed an important position in medical tourism and has made significant strides ahead of competing countries.

He explained that foreign patients previously visited Turkey mainly for dental treatment, hair transplantation, and cosmetic surgeries. However, Turkey has now become a destination for major surgeries such as organ transplants and the treatment of stubborn diseases like cancer.

According to Kanboulat, "Over the past 3 years, Turkey has established itself among the countries worldwide capable of handling large-scale cases and performing bone marrow transplants and organ transplants with great ease."

He affirmed that Turkey has achieved its goals in medical tourism and is now surpassing them.

Kanboulat emphasized that "trust in public hospitals is increasing more and more," noting that 30% of the patients served by healthcare institutions are foreigners.

He mentioned that hospitals such as "Antalya Training and Research Hospital" and "Akdeniz University Hospital" in Antalya, in particular, offer serious advantages for medical tourism. He pointed out that private hospitals have been operating in this field for years.

"We have achieved our goal in medical tourism in Turkey and Antalya, and we are working hard to raise the bar. Our country has become a shining star in the world in this field," he added.

Kanboulat stated that medical tourism is an important sector, with investments totaling approximately $100 billion.

He noted that interest continues to come from various countries, with dental treatment attracting Britons, while other fields attract countries from the Gulf and Europe.

Kanboulat pointed out that Turkey is just a two or three-hour flight away from about 160 countries, a fact that concerns its competitors.

"We are in cooperation with all the surrounding countries," he added.

Kanboulat also pointed out that countries sending patients to Turkey for medical tourism have also begun investing in infrastructure.

"Previously, we used to go abroad for treatment, but now foreign patients seeking recovery find it in Turkey," he concluded.

Antalya, the capital of tourism in Turkey, stands out in many areas of tourism such as medical treatment and entertainment, in addition to hosting numerous cultural, sports, and conference activities.

The coastal province broke a record in its number of visitors during the year 2023, receiving around 15.5 million tourists.

Source: Anadolu Agency