Turkey continues to dominate global health tourism

Health tourism in Turkey is without a doubt growing every year, with the country becoming a dominating player in the global industry. According to data released recently by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the health tourism sector in Turkey increased by 12 percent to reach $700 million in 2016. Turkey has already been a hub for hair transplant and physiotherapy services, welcoming patients from almost 60 countries including Middle Eastern, Arabic and European countries, as well as African countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Now Turkey is becoming a leading destination for eye surgery. The country is the number one choice of patients around the world, from the U.K. to Iraq, with those suffering from cataracts or macular degeneration seeking treatment in Turkish hospitals. Speaking to a Turkish TV channel, Dr. Efekan Coşkunseven claimed that international patients prefer Turkey for treatment because the operations are reasonably-priced and patients trust the experience of Turkish doctors.

Despite the recent drop in the number of international tourists in Turkey, health tourism continues to attract people seeking medical treatment. Turkey aims to increase its revenue from health tourism to $7 billion by the end of this year and $20 billion by 2023.