Turkey (TR)
Turkey is a transcontinental nation straddling Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, uniting 85 million people under a rich civilisational heritage stretching from the ancient Hittites and Romans to the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire.
Healthcare in Turkey
Turkey operates a mixed public-private healthcare system. The public system is based on Genel Sağlık Sigortası (GSS — General Health Insurance) through the Social Security Institution (SGK). Formally employed workers and their dependents are automatically covered by GSS through SGK contributions. Foreign residents can join SGK voluntarily. Turkey has made significant healthcare infrastructure investments since 2003 — building hundreds of large 'City Hospitals' (Şehir Hastaneleri). The private hospital sector, especially in Istanbul, is world-class: Acıbadem, Memorial, Istanbul Florence Nightingale, and Anadolu Medical Center are JCI-accredited and attract medical tourists globally. Quality varies dramatically between Istanbul/Ankara private hospitals and rural public facilities.
Istanbul private hospitals: world-class (top tier globally for medical tourism). Public system: adequate in major cities, variable in rural areas.
Public healthcare: Genel Sağlık Sigortası (GSS)
General Health Insurance
- GP visits at Aile Hekimi (Family Health Centre — free or nominal copay)
- Hospital treatment at public hospitals (significant copays for some services)
- Emergency care at public hospitals (free)
- Prescription drugs (partial reimbursement list)
- Maternity care and delivery at public hospitals
- Preventive care and vaccinations (free)
- Dental care: basic extractions and emergency treatment at public dental clinics
- Mental health treatment at public psychiatry departments
- Private hospital treatment (without SGK agreement with that specific hospital)
- Most cosmetic procedures
- Some specialist drugs not on the reimbursement list (SGK ilaç listesi)
- Most optical care (glasses, contact lenses)
- Advanced dental work (implants, orthodontics)
- Alternative medicine
Private healthcare: Private Health Insurance (Özel Sağlık Sigortası)
Accessing care
Turkey's primary care system is built around Aile Hekimi (Family Doctor / Family Physician). Each Turkish resident registered with the system is assigned an Aile Hekimi based on address, accessible at a local Aile Sağlığı Merkezi (ASM — Family Health Centre). Register online at aSistanlık (aile.saglik.gov.tr) or in person. The Aile Hekimi provides preventive care, basic treatment, prescriptions, and referrals. For private care: policlinics (poliklinikler) and private hospital outpatient departments do not require a referral — walk-in with private insurance or cash.
Public system: get a referral from your Aile Hekimi to access specialists at public hospitals (devlet hastanesi or şehir hastanesi) — book through the MHRS system (Merkezi Hekim Randevu Sistemi — Central Physician Appointment System, available at mhrs.gov.tr or call 182). Private system: no referral needed — book directly at private hospital or polyclinic with your insurance or cash.
Emergency (Acil): call 112 for ambulance. Emergency departments (Acil Servis) at all public and private hospitals are legally required to treat all patients regardless of insurance status — initial stabilisation is provided. Public hospital emergency: free for Turkish citizens and GSS members; foreigners without insurance pay cash. Private hospital emergency: higher quality but expensive without insurance.
For non-emergency medical advice outside Aile Hekimi hours: call 182 (Alo Doktor — medical advice line, Turkish). Private hospitals have 24-hour emergency departments and many have on-call consultants. Acil nöbetçi hastane (emergency duty hospital) lists published on municipal websites. Turkey does not have a GP out-of-hours system equivalent to 1813 in Denmark — emergency rooms absorb most after-hours demand.
Prescriptions (reçete) issued by doctors — paper or e-Reçete (electronic). Take to any eczane (pharmacy). SGK-covered drugs: show SGK card or YKN for subsidy. Private prescriptions: pay full price. Prescription validity: typically 3 months. Some controlled substances: stricter rules. Chronic medication: Aile Hekimi can issue repeat prescriptions.
Public dentistry: basic extractions and emergency treatment at Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı Merkezleri (ADSM — Oral and Dental Health Centres). Quality and capacity very limited. Most Turks and all expats use private dentists (diş hekimi). Private dentists affordable by international standards: check-up TRY 500–1,500; fillings TRY 800–2,500; implants TRY 5,000–15,000 (significantly cheaper than Western Europe — Turkey is a dental tourism destination). Quality varies — look for dentists with European training or recommendations from expat communities.
Public mental health: psychiatry departments at public hospitals (psikiyatri kliniği) — available via Aile Hekimi referral. Quality and availability limited; Turkish language only. Private psychologists and psychiatrists: TRY 1,000–3,000/session. Limited English-language therapy in Istanbul (Cihangir, Karaköy, Kadıköy areas). Online therapy platforms (BetterHelp, etc.) popular among expats. Crisis line: 182 (ALO Psikiyatri). Expat mental health challenges include adjustment to Turkish bureaucracy, TRY volatility anxiety, language barriers, and political environment.
Public maternity: free delivery at public hospitals with GSS coverage. Private maternity at international hospitals: TRY 30,000–100,000+ for delivery without complications. Turkey has a good maternal health record. Many Istanbul private hospitals have English-speaking obstetric staff. Doula (doğum koçu) services available. Post-natal: Turkish women typically have strong family support systems — expats should plan ahead for post-natal support. Paediatric care: available in both public and private systems.
Expat-specific advice
- Arrange private international health insurance before arrival — do not rely solely on GSS initially.
- Register with SGK for voluntary GSS once you have your YKN and residence permit (3-month waiting period applies for voluntary enrollment for non-urgent care).
- Install e-Nabız (e-Health) app (enabiz.gov.tr) — Turkey's electronic health record system. View your medical history, test results, and prescriptions.
- Register with an Aile Hekimi (Family Doctor) at your local Aile Sağlığı Merkezi via aSistanlık app.
- Save private hospital emergency numbers for Istanbul: Acıbadem (444 44 44), Memorial (444 7 888), Florence Nightingale (444 4 999), Anadolu Medical (444 4 888).
Pharmacies (Eczane)
- Paracetamol (Parol, Gripin, Tamol) — TRY 50–120
- Ibuprofen (Majezik, Voltaren) — TRY 60–150
- Antibiotics: technically prescription-only but often dispensed OTC — caution advised
- Antihistamines (Aerius, Loratadine) — TRY 100–200
- Sunscreen — TRY 200–500
- Vitamin D — TRY 100–300
- Probiotic supplements — TRY 200–600
- Oral rehydration salts (Orsalit) — TRY 60–120
- Nasal sprays — TRY 100–250
Typical costs
| GP visit (with insurance) | Aile Hekimi (GSS): TRY 0–50 copay. Private polyclinic with private insurance: TRY 0–200 (depends on policy) |
| GP visit (private pay) | Private GP visit: TRY 500–1,500 |
| Specialist visit | Private specialist: TRY 1,000–3,000 per visit. Public specialist (with GSS referral): TRY 50–200 copay |
| Emergency visit | Public hospital emergency (with GSS): TRY 0–200. Private hospital emergency: TRY 2,000–8,000+ (stabilisation; admission much higher) |
| MRI scan | Private MRI: TRY 3,000–8,000. Public MRI (with GSS, significant wait): TRY 200–500 |
| Prescription average | GSS-covered drug: TRY 50–300 (10–20% copay on many generics). Non-covered/private: varies |
| Dental check-up | Private dental check-up: TRY 500–1,500 |
| Baby delivery | Public hospital delivery with GSS: TRY 0–2,000 (copays for some services). Private hospital: TRY 30,000–100,000+ depending on hospital and complications |
Healthcare
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