Most non-emergency visits to public hospitals in Türkiye start with an appointment made through MHRS, the Health Ministry's Central Physician Appointment System. It covers Health Ministry facilities, including city hospitals, training and research hospitals, state hospitals and family physicians. Understanding how it works can save time for residents, including foreigners who are new to the system.
Three ways to book
By phone: Patients can call ALO 182, the MHRS call center, from a landline or mobile. An operator verifies the caller's identity, asks which hospital, department and, if desired, which doctor they want to see, then offers available dates and times. The service operates in Turkish, so non-Turkish speakers may need help from someone who speaks the language.
Online: The MHRS website (mhrs.gov.tr) allows users to create an account and log in either with their identity number and password or through e-Devlet, the government's online services portal. Users then choose a hospital, clinic and doctor, and pick an available slot.
By app: The free MHRS Mobil app, available on the App Store and Google Play, offers the same booking functions on a smartphone.
All channels require a Turkish identification number. Foreign residents use the foreigner identification number shown on their residence permit.
Cancelling and attending
Hospitals ask patients to cancel appointments they cannot keep so the slot can be offered to someone else. Cancellation can be done by calling 182, ideally at least 30 minutes before the appointment, or online through the appointment history section of the account. Hospital guidance also advises arriving around 20 to 30 minutes early to complete registration at the clinic desk.
Family physicians are the first point of contact in Türkiye's public system and can also be booked through MHRS. In a June 2026 interview, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said about three-quarters of patients who see a family physician have their issue resolved without referral to a hospital, and that family physicians can now prescribe 1,859 medicines.
After a visit, test results can usually be viewed through e-Nabız, the ministry's personal health record system, which shows results with dates and reference ranges. Many hospitals also publish results on their own laboratory portals.
MHRS is for planned visits. In an emergency, people should call 112 or go directly to a hospital emergency department, where no appointment is needed.
This article is for general information. Specific questions about treatment or coverage should be directed to a health professional, the relevant hospital or the Social Security Institution.
Sources
- How Can I Make an Appointment? – Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital (saglik.gov.tr)
- Frequently Asked Questions – Lüleburgaz State Hospital (saglik.gov.tr)
- Bakan Memişoğlu açıkladı: Türkiye 60 yeni hastaneye kavuşuyor – Habertürk
Photo: Cobija / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
