ANKARA — Turkey has entered a decisive new phase in its rapidly expanding health tourism industry. A landmark regulation that took effect on September 26, requiring all healthcare institutions operating in the health tourism sector to be registered on the HealthTürkiye platform. Institutions failing to comply are no longer be permitted to provide services to international patients.
The move marks one of the most comprehensive regulatory shifts in the sector to date, aiming to strengthen quality control, enhance transparency, and eliminate unregistered or informal operations that have long posed risks to both patients and Turkey’s global reputation.
🌐 HealthTürkiye: A Centralized Gateway for Trusted Care
Launched as Turkey’s official digital hub for international healthcare services, HealthTürkiye serves as a unified platform where patients from 12 countries can verify healthcare providers, compare services, and access reliable information.
Behlül Ünver, General Manager of International Health Services, emphasized that the platform was designed not only to protect patients but also to support healthcare institutions:
- Registered providers receive operational support and international promotion.
- USHAŞ facilitates agreements to help these institutions expand abroad.
- The long-term vision is to transform Turkish healthcare brands into globally recognized names.
“HealthTürkiye is our guarantee to the world,” Ünver said, underscoring the platform’s role in combating unregulated services and ensuring patient safety.
📈 A Growing Industry with Massive Potential
Turkey’s health tourism sector has seen remarkable growth over the past decade. In 2023, the country welcomed approximately:
- 1.5 million health tourists
- $3 billion in revenue
- $2,000 average spending per medical tourist — double that of a regular tourist
Ünver believes the sector is poised for even greater expansion. If per-person revenue rises to $3,000–$4,000, and visitor numbers continue to climb, Turkey could reach its ambitious target of $20 billion in annual health tourism revenue.
🌍 Turkey Among Global Leaders in Medical Travel
Turkey consistently ranks among the top five health tourism destinations worldwide, offering a wide spectrum of services:
- Medical tourism
- Thermal and spa tourism
- Wellness and preventive care
- Elderly and long-term care
- Services for people with disabilities
Globally, the wellness tourism market alone is valued at $1.2 trillion, highlighting the enormous growth potential for Turkey as it strengthens its regulatory and digital infrastructure.
🛡️ Combatting Disinformation with Dedicated Teams
Ünver also addressed the growing challenge of misinformation in the health tourism space. To counter misleading claims and protect both patients and providers, USHAŞ has established a specialized team tasked with monitoring and responding to false narratives.
He noted that Turkey’s internationally praised pandemic response demonstrated the country’s capacity for high-quality healthcare management — a reputation the sector aims to preserve.
🏥 Top Treatments and Rising Demand from Abroad
Patients from 145 countries travel to Turkey for a wide range of treatments, including:
- Organ transplants
- Eye surgeries
- Oncology treatments
- IVF
- Obesity surgery
- Dental care
Demand from the United Kingdom has surged in particular, driven by long waiting times in the British healthcare system. Many visitors now combine medical procedures with aesthetic treatments, wellness retreats, and holiday packages — a trend that further boosts Turkey’s tourism economy.
💻 What’s Next: USHAŞ Plus and Digital Expansion
Looking ahead, USHAŞ is preparing to launch USHAŞ Plus, a new digital platform designed to promote and facilitate the international sale of Turkish-made medical products.
Additionally, a new automation system for medicine supply will be introduced to streamline pharmaceutical distribution and enhance efficiency across the sector.
🌏 USHAŞ as a Global Health Partner
With HealthTürkiye at its core and new digital tools on the horizon, USHAŞ aims to position Turkey as a trusted global partner in health tourism. The mandatory registration rule that took effect on September 26 is expected to standardize operations, elevate service quality, and reinforce Turkey’s standing in an industry that continues to grow at remarkable speed.
As Ünver put it, the new era is about “building a safer, more transparent, and globally competitive health tourism ecosystem.”
