Turkey opens its doors to health tourists

This week, Turkey is opening its doors to health tourists from 31 countries.

With the country's coronavirus case numbers falling, it's relaxing restrictions. Last week, children were allowed outside for the first time, and prior to that, malls and other retail spaces began to open.

Health tourism is big business in Turkey, so it's natural that this is one sector the government was eager to see reopen. However, any incoming patients and their attendants - as well as anyone they come in contact with, such as health professionals - will be tested for covid-19 when they enter Turkey via an airport or at the border. 

Read more: why medical healthcare tourism is booming in Turkey.

Patients will need prior approval by International Health Services, and will be allowed two attendants maximum.

If there is a covid-19 test available in a patient's home country, visitors are required to take that test within a 48-hour window before their travel, and take their test results with them. After entering Turkey, patients and any attendants will be transported to the hospital. There will also be strict rules and parameters set for patients and their attendants regarding admission, treatment, and discharge.

Permitted countries include Iraq, Libya, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Oman, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Pakistan. 

The treatments offered include orthopedics and traumatology, general surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, eye diseases, cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, brain and nerve surgery, hematology, intensive care, assisted-reproduction treatment applications, organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation.