Health tourism is the medical visits of people to a different country outside the borders of the country where they live, in order to receive treatments. Those who travel from one country to another to gain health are called health tourists. Since bringing tourists from abroad with health tourism increases both the economy, the level of prosperity, and the prestige, this type of tourism is supported by state aid and incentives.
The scope of health tourism is extremely wide. Countries allocate a significant budget for the health tourism services they offer within their borders. It can be said that these amounts increase a little more each period. Countries that are successful in the health tourism sector are increasing their activities in this niche tourism field and continue to develop their infrastructures.
Requirements for Health Tourism
Hospitals, clinics, outpatient clinics, health agencies, and doctors are suitable candidates for health tourism. These can provide services within the scope of health tourism by meeting the legal requirements, which may vary from country to country, but are mostly similar.
The requirements for providing health tourism services in Turkey are regulated by the Regulation Concerning International Health Tourism and Tourist Health. The procedures and principles herein must be fully completed. For example, the health tourism agency should provide translation, accommodation, transportation, transfer to the hotel, and consultancy services to the patients as well as the treatment.
In order for a health institution to carry out health tourism, it is a prerequisite to have an International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate. To be an international health tourism intermediary institution, one must be in the Group A Travel Agency segment.
Types of Health Tourism
Health tourism is wide and large enough to meet different demands and needs. Protective applications, rehabilitative procedures, therapeutic operations, and aesthetic procedures are performed under this title. Including all these, traveling by changing countries can be given as the general definition of health tourism.
- Medical tourism,
- Thermal health tourism,
- Disabled health tourism
- Advanced age health tourism, which is also known as 3rd Age tourism.
These services are offered to health tourists. It is extremely important that all these medical treatments and procedures are performed in the best possible way. The fact that the incoming patient leaves the country satisfied with the treatment and the country will mean an increase in sectoral improvement and in particular an increase in the recognition of the country.
Why Turkey?
Turkey is one of the first answers given to the question of which country should I choose for treatment. Turkey is an advantageous country in various aspects, from the high investment rates in the health sector to the number of qualified doctors; from modern medical technologies to the opportunity to receive affordable treatment services.
Among the features that make Turkey distinctive are the following:
- Health facilities fulfill all the requirements before actually providing health tourism services.
- Health institutions are accredited.
- Turkey is extremely advantageous in terms of healthcare costs.
- It is possible to benefit from qualified and efficient treatment services at affordable prices.
- All processes from transportation to accommodation of the patient are followed carefully and step by step.
- Health facilities are regularly inspected by the Ministry of Health.
- Health institutions have modern infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies.
- Doctors are well-trained, experienced, and highly successful.
- The historical, natural, and cultural accumulation of Turkey's geography is worth exploring.
- Turkey is a central country that is easily accessible from many different regions of the world.
In summary, Turkey is a very good choice both to receive quality treatment services and to benefit from luxury hotel accommodation and VIP airport pick-up with the advantage of low cost.
