According to the National Coalition on Healthcare, an estimated 500,000 Americans traveled overseas for medical treatment and procedures last year alone. Given the growing popularity of medical tourism, it is no surprise that Turkey, a country whose 24,124,501 foreign visitors contributed 18.2 billion to their economy in 2005, has begun to promote itself as a premiere destination for medical tourists. To date, Turkish medical institutions provide cosmetic, in-vitro fertilization, dental and other treatments to an estimated 15,000 foreign patients every year.

When medical tourist, Mrs. Fay of the UK, planned her medical vacation to Turkey, she had no idea it would work out so well. Making the trip for breast and eyelid-lift surgeries, she paid less than $1,000.00 for both procedures, surgeries which would have cost her over $10,000 in the United States. According to Mrs. Fay, who received her treatment at the Jinemed Hospital:

“After my surgery I could have gone back to my hotel the same day but the operation finished quite late so they let me stay overnight, free of charge, and I left the next morning. I stayed in Istanbul for a further six days and the whole experience was really great. It was very easy to do, and everything was carried out very smoothly so I am going back for more treatments!”

Booking her treatment and travel through Silk Road Hotels, the overall cost of her medical vacation, including treatment, flights and accommodation, was equivalent to $2,939.40. Imagine paying less than a third of what you would expect to pay in the United States and getting a weeks vacation to boot. Fortunately, Mrs. Fay’s experience was not an anomaly. As quoted on Treatment Abroad, an online provider of medical tourism information and services, rhinoplasty and a facelift average about $2200.00 each in Turkey whereas in the United States, the same surgeries cost about $6,000 and $8,000 respectively.

The appeal of traveling to Turkey for medical care is obvious. Known as the “Cradle of Civilization” and famous for its breathtaking Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines, the country offers medical tourists the opportunity to spend their post-operative days experiencing a natural and historical wealth unlike that found anywhere else in the world. Of course this is not all Turkey has to offer. The healthcare industry in Turkey is excellent. Based upon US medical models and training, Turkey’s hospitals boast a qualified staff, modern equipment and ISO 9001 international medical certification. Furthermore, the prices for surgery, treatment and hospital care are competitive with other medical tourism destinations across the board. With package deals that include flights, transfers, hotels, treatment and often a post-operative vacation, Turkey offers medical tourists an irresistible offer.

Making arrangements for treatment in Turkey can be relatively seamless as well. Recognizing the fiscal opportunity, Turkish industry has expanded to include services for medical tourists. As a result, tour companies such as Wake Up to Turkey and TWARP.com as well as medical centers such as Sanatolia Care and CTG Healthcare offer aid in the planning and booking of medical tourism trips including the arrangement of flights, hotels, transfers and treatments. Furthermore, many of these companies offer special packages and deals to prospective clients.

One such package, offered by Silk Road Hotels, advertises a trip to the Kangal Fish Springs, where tourists stay in the Kangal Fish Spring Resort. These miraculous springs offer a strange, but 100% effective cure for skin problems such as psoriasis, acne, and eczema. As explained on their website, “those having treatment in the thermal baths for the first time will be surprised when they notice that the brown, grey and beige colored fish surround them and begin to clear up the spots on the skin….The fish actually nibble on the area of skin affected and might cause little pain at first, but then this feeling subsides. For the best results it is recommended that patients spend a total of 8 hours a day in these pools.” Furthermore, the article goes on to say, “the water has been reported as being beneficial in rheumatic disease, neurological disorders (neuralgia, neuritis, paralysis), orthopedic and traumatological sequelae (fractures, joint trauma, and muscle disease), gynecological problems, skin diseases, and psychosomatic disorders (a report from the Clinic and Institute of Physical Therapy and Hydrology, Faculty of Medicine Ankara University, March 2, 1967).” Best of all, the packages can be tailored to suit the needs and budget of each individual, offering options in hotels or camping, as well as additional therapeutic services.

These days, there are many resources available to help medical tourists plan their treatment and stay abroad. Among these are Treatment Abroad and Healthbase. Whereas Treatment Abroad allows people to compare the services and prices offered by various medical tourism companies, Healthbase provides information on hospitals and destinations as well as allows users to plan a complete medical travel itinerary online.