High Risk, High Reward?: Turkey is Taking Charge of International Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is nothing new, but as of recently, an increasing number of people have been traveling abroad to receive medical services. Medical tourism includes individuals traveling to foreign countries to receive a type of medical procedure, with the most common procedures being cosmetic surgeries, dental care, fertility treatments, and elective organ transplants.

Many of these individuals seek procedures and medical treatment abroad due to lower costs or an inability to access certain procedures in their native countries. For instance, cost-sensitive and market-driven procedures, such as elective transplants and cosmetic surgeries can be 50% lower in developing countries, making it an attractive option to go abroad for many individuals. Most developing countries also offer discounted airfare, luxury hotel stays, and amenities to patients that are included in the cost of their procedure. Not only can an individual get their desired medical care, but they can also get a vacation out of the experience, making medical tourism a global healthcare phenomenon.

Historically, countries such as Costa Rica, India, and Malaysia have been top medical tourism destinations for countless types of medical procedures, but in the past decade, Turkey has taken over as one of the most sought-after destinations. In 2022, more than one million medical tourists visited Turkey, generating $2.1 billion in revenue. By the end of 2024, Turkey is on track to serve almost a quarter of international medical tourists.

However, traveling abroad for medical services can be risky. The quality and continuity of care can be called into question due to the varying health regulations and guidelines from country to country. As well as this, the risk of post-operative infection can be high depending on the destination, the facility where the procedure is being performed, and the quality of medical devices and medicines utilized.

As a result, patients who experience post-operative complications may have little recourse depending on forms signed waiving their right to a lawsuit against medical tourism agencies used. Also, it is often difficult to establish jurisdiction against foreign defendants in courts within the United States. Even upon managing to file and win their suit, it can be increasingly difficult to enforce judgments against a foreign defendant.

Since Turkey has emerged as a global leader in the medical tourism sector, they have enacted an extensive set of laws aimed to protect international medical tourists, while continuing to enable growth within the medical tourism sector. Enacted in 2017, these laws aim to strictly regulate the health sector as a whole, health brokers, and the private clinics involved in treating international patients. Not only do these facilities need basic accreditation and medical certifications, but practitioners must also hold an International Health Tourism (IHT) certificate, which is granted by the Turkish Ministry of Health. IHT certificates aid in regulating minimum health standards for international medical tourism services by protecting international patient privacy rights, limiting the many health risks associated with medical tourism, and introducing liability to medical facilities and practitioners in instances of malpractice.

Article Written by Kendell Gunnip

Sources:

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical Tourism: Travel to Another Country for Medical Care, CDC (June 1, 2023), available at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/medical-tourism (last visited Oct. 28, 2024).

Nicole F. Roberts, What Is Medical Tourism? Traveling For Healthcare Explained, FORBES (Nov. 29, 2023 12:16 AM), available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleroberts/2023/11/29/what-is-medical-tourism-traveling-for-healthcare-explained/ (last visited Oct. 28, 2024).

Altug Ozgun and Mira Gokalp, Medical Tourism and Health Tourism in Turkey – Healthcare Series 18, CBC LAW (June 7, 2022), available at https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=3094862b-3833-4299-9d83-2c8d779885ae (last visited Oct. 28, 2024).

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