Everyone wants to live life to the fullest, to be healthy and attractive. But keeping your body in good shape nowadays is not only difficult, but also expensive. Unless, of course, you count on professional doctors, the most modern technologies and a high level of service.

During the pandemic, Turkish medicine, both private and public, has become a real discovery for Europeans, which offers the same services as in the best clinics in the EU, but with prices like in the CIS. Plus a magical “cocktail” of healing sea, mountain and forest air, hot springs and the freshest fruits.

Today we will figure out how health tourism works using the example of dentistry – how to choose the right clinic, for how long to go, whether it is possible to get insurance, etc.

What is “health tourism”

When people talk about tourism, they usually mean beaches and museums. In fact, it can be any tour – wellness, business, etc. Turkey is a leader in the field of resort tourism in Europe, and in some areas in the world. It is natural that having achieved success in the field of beach and other recreation, the country’s authorities have taken up related areas, among which the priority is now the treatment of diseases and maintaining health.

The pandemic has changed many things in our lives, including our attitude towards our own health. At the peak of the coronavirus crisis, hundreds of thousands of foreigners left for Turkey not for the sake of the beaches, but to wait out the period of self-isolation in comfort and under the gentle sun. Many stayed for months, worked remotely, or even moved their businesses here.

All this has increased the demand for medical services, as well as raised the standards of service. The high quality of services, accessibility and reasonable prices were appreciated by foreigners. They began to invite acquaintances and friends, word of mouth went. The government also supported clinics, gave foreigners access to state health insurance (one of the best in Europe).

As a result, in just a couple of years, Turkey entered the Top 5 of the world health tourism market, occupying a niche of 10%. Specialized associations report that in April 2022, every tenth tourist traveling abroad for the purpose of treatment chose Turkish clinics.

Among the leaders was the sphere of dental treatment and prosthetics, which in the country has shown unprecedented development in recent years while maintaining reasonable prices. Especially if you compare the industry with the EU countries, for example, where only very wealthy people can afford high-quality dentist services.

Dentistry in Turkey – what are the clinics

Dental clinics and offices in major Turkish cities are scattered at almost every turn. You can easily find them using Google Maps or online service aggregators. It often displays not only contacts, but also links to sites and price lists. Also on the forums and in the same aggregators you can find enough reviews and ratings of each more or less large clinic.

In general, such medical institutions can be divided by scale (specialized clinic or just an office) and by type (public or private). Large clinics often offer more services, including more complex procedures. Prices depend more on the qualifications of the doctor than on the size of the clinic.

It should also be noted that Turkish state institutions are very different from their post-Soviet counterparts – the level of services and equipment here is often even better than in private clinics, and prices are lower under the condition of state insurance. It can be obtained if you have citizenship of the Republic of Turkey or a residence permit – read more about the features of health insurance for foreigners in our blog.

It is necessary to make an appointment in public and large private medical institutions very much in advance, because the demand among the Turks themselves is considerable. The queue, albeit virtual (by appointment), is often very long – weeks, and sometimes months of waiting. Therefore, with urgent problems, such as toothache, the Turks themselves usually go to small offices in the “at home” format, where the problem will be solved quickly and inexpensively, unless, of course, the problem is very complicated.

The price of the issue is in Turkey and in other countries

Most often, people go to Turkey not so much for dental treatment, but for prosthetics, bite correction and other simple operations, often cosmetic. The equipment and standards here correspond to European clinics, but with a reasonable price.

For example, the installation of a dental implant in Germany starts from 2-2.5 thousand euros. In Istanbul, the price starts at 300 euros. For 1-1.5 thousand euros, you can get the most premium service and quality that is not available in most regions of the CIS. With Germany or Austria, where immigrants from post-Soviet countries with strong incomes previously loved to go, prices do not even make sense to compare – they are often several times higher than in Turkey …

Moreover, if you use local materials (produced under European licenses, often under the same German ones), you can save even more – implantation according to the All-on-6 scheme in Istanbul will cost 2.5-3 thousand euros, and in Moscow or Kiev already 4-5 thousand euros with the same quality. After the weakening of the lira, the cost of Turkish materials and services for foreigners has become even lower, and therefore more affordable.

Here are a few more examples: Straumann implants – from 600 euros in Istanbul and from 900 euros in Moscow / Kiev; a modern implant with a crown – from 300 and from 400 euros, respectively; Simple Swiss and Mis implants in Turkey from 400 euros, etc.

Although the prices in the most prestigious clinics will not differ so much from their counterparts in Eastern Europe, their important advantage will be the possibility of a package order of services, which may include, among other things, hotel accommodation and even the cost of travel.

That is, the popular Turkish all-inclusive approach also works in the field of health tourism, which is very convenient and has received high marks from patients – as mentioned above, every tenth foreigner traveling abroad for treatment chooses Turkey.

How to choose a dental clinic in Turkey

The selection criteria are the same as in any other country:

-professionalism;

– quality of materials and equipment;

– reviews and brand;

– pricing policy;

– comfort for the patient.

Professionalism has clear criteria and evidence in the form of a medical license and professional achievements (the title of Doctor of Medicine, for example). It is especially important to have an up-to-date license, because. This obliges the doctor and the institution to be liable in the event of a medical error. Our agency also assumes legal responsibility when concluding real estate transactions – everything is the same here, but not only money is at stake, but also your health.

Next comes the quality of materials and equipment. Serious clinics always indicate on their websites not only prices, but also the names of brands whose equipment and materials they use. Then these names can be googled from home, and when visiting, confirm everything on the spot.

But is it possible to believe everything that is indicated on the website or in the social networks of the company or doctor? Of course not. Trust – but verify! The easiest way to do this is through the same social networks, forums, reviews in the same medical aggregators. Or by contacting someone who has been living in Turkey for a long time and has first-hand information – that is, to our agency (we can easily arrange a medical tour for you).

An important point is the publicity of the clinic. The more difficult it is to find information about the medical institution, the more doubts the patient will have. Our agency works in a different field, but, alas, there are scammers and various “tiktokers” without licenses in all industries. But even superficial monitoring on the network will help distinguish a real professional from a fraudster. After all, the name for the doctor and the brand for the clinic in medicine are very important.

The next idea is the price criterion. Of course, most people start evaluating a clinic with a price list – your right. But suspiciously low prices are always a “bell” that should arouse suspicion. Inflated prices, which are unjustified except for the greed of the owner, are also not your option. That is why you need to make sure that you have a licensed dentistry with high-quality equipment, and not a schemer.

The comfort of the clinic for the patient is not only soft chairs or modern design of the premises, but also how convenient it is to get to the doctor, what payment methods are accepted (especially if you have a Visa card of a Russian bank), whether there is a guarantee for the same dental implants, etc. It is especially important to find out in advance (!) what insurance policies the clinic accepts and under what conditions (full compensation, discounts, etc.).

By following these basic tips, you will definitely not be lost in Turkey or in any country in the world where you go for treatment.

Wellness tour – what is it?

So, we already know what “health tourism” is, what advantages Turkey has, and even decided on a clinic. What to do next? There are two options – either to go on your own, or to arrange a tour directly at a medical institution or with our help.

With our help, it will be more effective simply because we know the best establishments in all major cities of the country, we will help with arrival and accommodation, with car rental (if necessary) and provide full care in the popular all-inclusive format.

A tour in the clinic allows you to receive services only in this one institution. But we can pick up any institution to further strengthen your health – if you have already come to treat your teeth, then why not visit the beaches with therapeutic mud, mountain or forest recreation centers, hot springs?.. If you like it in Turkey (and here you can’t help but like it) and you decide to stay, then we will help you choose not just a hotel, but also housing for rent or even the purchase of real estate at the most current prices.

It would seem, how is the purchase of housing related to health? In fact, the connection is the most direct – long-term lease and purchase of real estate give the right to obtain a residence permit and second citizenship, and this, in turn, gives access to state health insurance.

The policy covers all major diseases – thousands of people from all over the world specifically purchase housing in order to gain access to public services in Turkey. Remember we wrote that Turkish medicine represents European quality with post-Soviet prices? So, with this policy, there will be even more services, and the cost is even less – much is generally free.

State insurance is especially beneficial for pensioners, because it is the most reliable care when health is not what it used to be. Imagine a quiet sunset on the gazebo of your own house by the seashore, near the majestic mountains and the emerald forest, the warm sun, the “heady” southern air and the realization that your health is finally under full protection and guardianship. Isn’t that wonderful? And it’s worth starting with a trial, introductory or wellness tour, with which we will be happy to help you.