THE Medical Tourism in Turkey

Lately, I’ve been hearing of one specific field in the healthcare industry more and more.

Patients flying in from abroad, full-service hotel + clinic packages, ambitious globalization plans from local healthcare providers...

Medical tourism has quietly become one of Turkey’s most remarkable success stories. In 2023, Turkey hosted 1.5 million international patients and generated nearly $3 billion in revenue from this sector. (1)

When you add unregistered, underground clinics into the mix, the market size is said to hit $10 billion. The official government target for 2025? A bold $12 billion. (2)

That’s huge. Naturally, as a healthcare marketer, I got curious. Here’s what I found:

Nearly 60% of patients come from the UK (3) — followed by Germany, Belgium, other Western European countries, the Middle East and the U.S.

So, why Turkey?

· Obvious reason – Affordability: Treatment costs are significantly lower compared to Europe and the U.S.

· High Quality: Internationally accredited hospitals, experienced medical staff. In my own experience with dermocosmetic brands, when planning stand-alone meetings in Turkey, the very first request I get from dermatologists from various countries is on medical tourism — most often for hair transplants. That interest is fueled by high-standard clinics like Esteworld or Vatanmed.

· Turkish Style – All included: From airport transfers to translation services and aftercare — it’s all included (3). There’s no stress over whether the staff speaks English, if the clinic is far from the hotel or whether a nurse is needed post-op.

It all started with hair transplants, followed by bariatric surgery. And now?

There’s a new star on the rise: Dental care.

As of 2023, Turkey’s dental tourism market reached $267 million, making up 8% of total health tourism revenue. The forecast? It's expected to exceed $1 billion by 2030, growing at an impressive 21.2% CAGR from 2024 onward (4, 5).

We’ve missed seeing double-digit growth like this, haven’t we?

Main drivers? Implants and cosmetic dental procedures.

One more reason this hit my radar: AI-driven innovation.

Intraoral scanners powered by artificial intelligence now allow faster and more personalized treatment plans. Transparent aligners like #Invisalign are becoming the norm. 3D digital simulations let patients preview their smiles before even sitting in the chair (6).

Better yet, treatment progress is recorded in a visual format that patients can track over time — making the entire process more collaborative and confidence-boosting.

This field has undergone a true digital leap over the past two decades.

Saying “I’m getting an implant” now implies not just a medical need — but a blend of aesthetics, speed, and tech-enhanced experience.

And now, we’re seeing AI-driven dental products and imaging platforms investing heavily in Turkey — building teams, bringing capital, and reshaping the patient experience.

So what do you think?

Could this be the next big wave of good news (and investment) for the industry?

Referances:

THE Medical Tourism in Turkey

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