Türkiye is one of the world's busiest destinations for medical travel. According to official statistics, about 1.4 million people visited the country for health care in 2025, generating roughly $3.02 billion in revenue. In the first quarter of 2026, 302,487 international patients spent a combined $761.5 million, Daily Sabah reported.
To manage this growth, the Health Ministry overhauled the sector's rulebook in 2025. A new regulation on international health tourism and tourist health, published in the Official Gazette on April 26, 2025, replaced the previous 2017 rules.
Who needs authorization
Under the regulation, hospitals and clinics that want to treat health tourists must obtain an authorization certificate from the Health Ministry, applying through its digital system. Intermediary companies, the agencies that arrange treatment, travel and accommodation for foreign patients, must obtain their certificates from USHAŞ, the ministry's international health services company. These certificates cannot be transferred to another business.
Facilities and intermediaries must register on HealthTürkiye, the country's official health tourism portal, and keep their information up to date. They are also expected to run foreign-language websites and employ at least one staff member who speaks a foreign language. Intermediaries must contract with a call center available around the clock in at least two foreign languages.
Health facilities must set up a dedicated international patient unit and meet quality standards set by the Türkiye Health Care Quality and Accreditation Institute (TÜSKA). The ministry has said accreditation and certification should be completed by the end of 2026.
Protections for patients
One of the most significant changes for patients is mandatory complication insurance for surgical and interventional procedures performed on health tourists. The insurance is intended to cover costs if complications arise after treatment.
USHAŞ is required to evaluate authorized facilities and intermediaries at least once a year. Performance criteria include patient satisfaction, complaint rates, response times and appointment waiting times. Certificates can be suspended or cancelled if a provider fails to meet standards or stops operating for a year. The regulation also allows authorized facilities to offer remote care, provided they announce it on the HealthTürkiye portal.
Promotion of health services must follow Türkiye's separate rules on advertising and information in health care.
For those considering treatment in Türkiye, a practical first step is to confirm that both the clinic and any agency involved appear among the certified providers listed on the HealthTürkiye portal. Asking in writing about complication insurance, aftercare and total costs before traveling is also advisable.
This article is for general information only. Decisions about medical treatment should be made in consultation with qualified health professionals.
Sources
- A Quick Look At Türkiye's New International Health Tourism Regulation – Mondaq
- Türkiye's health tourism gets major upgrade for safety, quality – Daily Sabah
- Türkiye's Q1 health tourism revenue hits $761.5M as demand grows – Daily Sabah
Photo: CeeGee / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
