The standard of healthcare in Turkey varies substantially; within the tourist resorts and major cities like the capital Ankara and Istanbul, standards are very good, however, in some more remote areas standards in state facilities are lower than one may expect in more developed countries. There are now plenty of private healthcare facilities, which offer great care, treatment and standards. When booking a vacation to Turkey, it is imperative that you ensure you have private medical cover; Turkey does not have a free health service like the UK, nor does it recognise the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you fall ill or have an accident during your stay in Turkey, you will have to pay for all of your medical treatment including any emergency care.Get a Private Health Policy
Private healthcare in Turkey is excellent, so much so that many people now visit purely for medical tourism; to take advantage of cosmetic, dental and major surgical treatments on offer at substantially lower costs. You are advised to cover yourself from any holiday ills by taking out private medical insurance. You must take the time to read the details of the policy; make sure it has a high monetary value in terms of the cover it provides. It is also wise to include things like repatriation, whereby your transport costs are covered by the policy should you be moved to another country including your home country for treatment. You should also ensure that in the event of your death in Turkey, your insurance policy covers the cost of having your body shipped home. Another area to check on your policy is your level of cover, should you indulge in high-risk sports and activities like parasailing, bungee jumping or scuba diving. There are few insurance policies, which will cover the treatment for existing illness and medical conditions; if you have an existing medical condition you must check with your insurance company that you will be covered in the event of you needing treatment. You will be expected to pay an excess with most private health policies; this means that you will be expected to pay a set fee before the insurance company pay out. If your treatment is minor, then you may not qualify for any insurance cover. It is worth checking the excess to make sure that it is not an unreasonable amount. If you are severely incapacitated during your stay in Turkey, it is worth calling your insurance company to sort out payment for your treatment as many insurance companies will state in their policy that you should pay from your own pocket and submit receipts and documents for reimbursement when you return home. If you are receiving a high degree of medical care in Turkey then you must call your insurance company immediately so that they can make arrangements for you as it is unlikely that you would be able to cover the expenses from your own pocket. Remember to keep all receipts and documents for any medical treatment and prescription drugs – your insurance company will not reimburse you without them. Doctors
Visitors who stay in urban areas in hotels or as part of an organised tour can access a doctor via their tour rep or the hotel reception. This is highly recommended because many doctors charge high amounts for their service and there is no national health service. Many city-based doctors speak good English and German and are well trained. Accidents and Emergencies
If you are in need of emergency treatment, you can attend the Accident and Emergency department of the local state hospital. The hospital doctor will decide if your condition requires a stay in hospital and will arrange this on your behalf. Accident and Emergency units are located in hospitals in all large towns throughout Turkey. Information on local medical emergency services is available at the local police stations as well as in the telephone book and can be obtained from your hotel reception or tour representative. The ambulance emergency number is 112, but response times are extremely slow and it is wiser to take a taxi rather than rely on ambulance transportation.Chemists
Chemists are known as eczane in Turkey and are located in all towns and cities throughout the country. They stock most medicines and each chemist is staffed with trained pharmacists or one or more supervisors and an assistant supervisor. The chemists are able to sell most drugs without a prescription; however some drugs have a green and red prescription system on them. You should bring sufficient supplies of existing medication as well as personal hygiene products and painkillers. Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations required to visit Turkey, but most medical advisors recommend the following, particularly if you intend to travel to remote or rural areas:- Diphtheria. This is spread by droplet infection through close personal contact.
Tetanus. This is contracted through dirty cuts, bites and scratches. It causes a serious infection to the central nervous system.
Typhoid and hepatitis A. These are spread through infected food and water. Typhoid causes blood poisoning and hepatitis A causes liver disease.
Hepatitis B. This is a disease affecting the liver, which is spread through contaminated blood, needles and sexual intercourse.
Rabies. This is carried by animal bites particularly from dogs. If you are bitten, seek medical help immediately. Children are considered at higher risk because they may play with animals and not report bites.
Is it Safe to Drink the Water?
If you don’t live permanently in Turkey then it is wiser to stick to bottled water because the tap water will contain bacteria that your body is not used to. If you visit regularly or live here permanently your body will build up tolerance to this, but for short vacation stays, stick with mineral water. Additionally, the difference in cuisine and cooking methods may lead to stomach upsets. Make sure that your food is thoroughly cooked and served hot.
