Turkey Makes HealthTürkiye Platform Membership Mandatory for Health Tourism Providers
A New Era in Turkish Health Tourism: Behlül Ünver, General Manager of International Health Services (USHAŞ), announced a major shift in Turkey’s health tourism policy. Starting from September 26, any healthcare institution not registered on the HealthTürkiye platform will no longer be permitted to operate in the health tourism sector. This new regulation aims to ensure quality, transparency, and to eliminate unregistered operations in the industry.
HealthTürkiye: A Centralized Gateway for Trusted Care
HealthTürkiye was created to offer a secure and transparent healthcare tourism system. It allows patients from 12 countries to track healthcare providers in Turkey, helping to prevent underground or unregulated services. Ünver highlighted that institutions onboarded through HealthTürkiye are supported with agreements to expand their operations, with the long-term goal of turning them into global brands.
A Growing Industry with Big Potential
In 2023, Turkey hosted around 1.5 million health tourists, generating $3 billion in revenue. The average spending per medical tourist was about $2,000—double the average regular tourist’s spending. Ünver believes that if the per-person revenue increases to $3,000 or $4,000, and tourist numbers continue to grow, the country could reach a $20 billion annual revenue target from health tourism.
Turkey Among Global Leaders in Medical Travel
Turkey consistently ranks among the top five destinations for health tourism worldwide. The sector spans multiple categories including medical tourism, thermal tourism, wellness, elderly care, and services for people with disabilities. Globally, the wellness tourism market alone is valued at $1.2 trillion, indicating massive room for growth.
Combatting Disinformation with Dedicated Teams
Misinformation in health tourism is a growing concern, according to Ünver. In response, USHAŞ has formed a dedicated team to monitor and counter false narratives. He also emphasized that Turkey’s globally recognized success in healthcare management during the pandemic helped showcase the country’s high standards in medical services.
Top Treatments and Rising Demand from Abroad
Patients from 145 countries come to Turkey for procedures like organ transplants, eye surgeries, oncology treatments, IVF, obesity surgery, and dental care. There’s also a notable rise in demand from the UK, partly due to long wait times in the British healthcare system. Many of these international visitors are combining medical treatments with aesthetic services and wellness tourism.
What’s Next: USHAŞ Plus and Digital Expansion
Looking ahead, Ünver revealed that a new digital platform called USHAŞ Plus is about to launch. It will support the international promotion and sale of locally made medical products. Additionally, a new automation system for medicine supply will be introduced to streamline pharmaceutical distribution.
USHAŞ as a Global Health Partner
Through HealthTürkiye and future digital tools, USHAŞ continues to serve as an international guarantor, standing by healthcare providers to elevate their presence in global health tourism markets. The mandatory registration rule, effective from September 26, marks a decisive step in standardizing and professionalizing Turkey’s role in this rapidly growing industry.
