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Health Care in Turkey

Health Care Advantages for Turkish Citizenship

The Turkish healthcare system is one of the most pioneering systems in the world. In fact, the government is fully-focused on human health and safety. That is to say, major budgets have been allocated to provide the health sector in Turkey with the latest modern equipment, according to international standards.

Moreover, it covers 3 different types of hospitals, namely: public, private and university hospitals. All of which allow individuals to benefit from their health insurance.

The government takes the lead in managing social and health insurances. Actually, both are under its direct supervision, at the level of every citizen and resident within Turkey.

Both public and private Turkish hospitals adhere to international standards. At times even exceeding those standards in terms of equipment quality, expertise and availability of medical competencies.

How Does Health System work in Turkey?

The Ministry of Health supervises all health services in Turkey. In addition, Turkey owns government and private hospitals in all fields and specialties.

However, no one can benefit from these hospitals unless he is legally registered with the Directorate of Health and Social Insurance.

Moreover, each neighborhood has its own clinic, or Family Health Center “Aile Sağlığı Merkezi”. People registered in the Turkish Citizenship & Population Directorate can benefit from these centers.

Whereas, residents of Turkey must join the Turkish Social Security Fund, in order to benefit from the Turkish social security system.

You can get free or low-cost healthcare. Social security offices are distributed throughout the country to facilitate citizens’ health affairs.

It is worth noting that the health care system is divided into 3 regions:

  • SSK for employees.
  • Bağ-Kur for self-employed citizens.
  • Emekli Sandık for retired citizens.

The Turkish government has completely restructured the insurance and health care system. In other words, the new system covers anyone who works legally in Turkey. Moreover, it provides free health care in hospitals and government institutions. In addition to granting big discounts on the medicines and treatment sessions fees, as well as covering all children up to the age of 18.

In the same context, along with the new system, another special system is still in operation. It is the green card system, which provides families with low incomes free access to health care.

Health Care in Turkey
Health Care in Turkey

Advantages of Health Care in Turkey

  • Turkish hospitals provide free emergency ambulance service to citizens we well as foreigners, both in public and private hospitals.
  • Turkish hospitals allow patients to electronically schedule their visits. This is through the MHRS mobile phone applications or through the website of the Turkish Ministry of Health. That is by determining the appropriate day and hour for the patient, to ensure the patient’s comfort and prevent time waste.
  • Turkish hospitals seek to provide the needed medical personnel in all departments and specialties
  • The state provides adequate transportation means for urgent medical evacuation. For example, highly equipped medical helicopters and ambulances of the Turkish Red Crescent. In addition to bus, metro, tramway and metrobus lines that connect you to any place in the city easily and safely.
  • Health institutions in Turkey are trying to compete with their global counterparts, by qualifying their medical staff in specialized colleges and universities. In fact, they are providing integrated health service, starting from reception and supervision tasks, to the most complex and rare surgeries. Consequently, following up on patients after their treatment.
  • The Turkish government works to secure medical devices and develop their industry locally to ensure readiness and availability. Thus, government hospitals have competence in dealing with all medical cases. By doing so, they have managed successfully manufacturing the necessary respirators to counter the symptoms of the Corona virus in intensive care units.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that during the last 8 years, Turkey has succeeded in reducing birth death rates, competing what developed countries have achieved in 30 years’ time. The Turkish government always seeks to be at the forefront of global countries in all fields. Indeed, this has encouraged more foreign citizens and global investors, and raised their interest to obtain Turkish citizenship through multiple investment methods.

Edited by: Properties Gate©

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