Sun, beaches and laser eye surgery in Turkey

ISTANBUL - The cost of receiving medical care may still be burning the wallets of Turkish citizens, however, the prices are still low enough to lure in foreign patients. A surgery that would cost 5,000 euros in Europe can cost as little as 500 euros in Turkey Many Europeans’ wallets have shrunk as a result of the economy, pushing them to seek ways to lower their medical costs. That search has put Turkey on the map as a popular destination for those wanting lower-cost health care.

In 2007, the number of foreign patients in Turkey was 150,000. Last year, the number of foreigners treated in Turkey increased by 40 percent to total 200,000. Foreigners choose Turkey not just for lower medical costs, but also for vacation opportunities available following recovery.

The global economic crisis played a major role in the increasing figure, said Dr. Dursun Aydın, president of the Association of Improving Health Tourism.

"Europeans prefer Turkey mostly for plastic surgery, in vitro fertilization, dental treatment and laser eye surgery. These surgeries cost an average of 5,000 euros in Europe. In Turkey, the average cost for such surgeries varies between 500 to 900 euros," he said.

"The technology used in Turkey is just as developed as European technology and our doctors are also very successful," Aydın added.

Turkey mostly receives patients from the Netherlands, Untied Kingdom, Belgium and France, Aydın said. There has also been an increase in Middle Eastern patients, who have begun to prefer Turkey to Europe, Aydın said.

If Turkey’s potential in the health industry is publicized efficiently, then the income obtained from the country’s health tourism may reach $10 billion within the next three to five years. Currently Turkey’s health market has a volume of $500 million.

Thirty patients a day

"We treated 570 foreign patients in 2007. That figure rose to 1,102 last year," said Dr. Hasan Kuş, Anadolu Health Center, or ASM, general director.

"Nearly 30 foreign patients a day visit our hospital. Most of our foreign customers are from Romania, Kosovo, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Russia and Bulgaria. Most of them are here for treatments in medical oncology, radiation oncology, brain surgery and orthopedics. Plastic surgery, in vitro fertilization and dental treatment departments are also in high demand."

The number of foreign patients doubled or even quadrupled last year, said Meri Bahar, vice general manager of the Acıbadem Healthcare Group. "Many foreigners find Turkey attractive both for its lower medical costs and the quality of the health care they receive," she said. "Medical tourism in the country is growing like a snowball."

Hospitals gravitating toward health tourism have been quite happy with the growing business and they foresee this year to be even brighter than last year.