Turkish Airlines has a new support package for hospitals and clinics that promote medical tourism. Deals have been signed with many hospitals in Turkey. The package offers special discounts and incentives for those who come to Turkey for medical treatment -
• Travel from the USA to Turkey: Up to 25% discounts on first, business and economy class fares.
• Travel from other countries to Turkey: 20% discount on first and business class fares, 10% discount on economy class fares.
• 10kg excess luggage allowance.
• No rebooking penalty if the rebooking is required because of medical complications.
• Up to two companions travelling with the patient are entitled for the same discounts.
Passengers travelling for medical purposes must present an acceptance letter from a hospital or clinic in Turkey that has an arrangement with Turkish Airlines. Patients travelling from the USA have the alternative of presenting a referral letter from a hospital in the USA.
There are restrictions:
• Discounts cannot be combined with other discounts.
• No discounts on promotional fares.
• No discount for stretcher.
• Turkish Airlines flights only. Code share flights are not included.
• 32Kg per piece maximum luggage allowance.
• Passengers will be charged if upgrade is necessary or other fees are required.
In Turkey, there are six categories of hospitals - state hospitals (two categories), private hospitals, international hospitals, university hospitals and military hospitals. Turkish health care reforms must be put into the wider picture of a country that had to recover from a serious economic crisis early in the new millennium. Over the best part of the last decade, government efforts have focused on improving public health care whilst attracting investors to open private hospitals. Private health care is of a high standard while access to and general provision of public health care is improving.
A new market research report, “Emerging Medical Tourism in Turkey”, has been published by international research group RNCOS. Turkey has emerged as one of the most popular destinations in Europe for medical tourism. It is anticipated that the number of medical tourists will rise at an annual rate of 28% during 2010-2013 because of government support on promotional activities to boost the nation’s medical tourism industry. The country has one of the highest numbers of JCI accredited hospitals in Europe. With the very low cost of treatments and sophisticated technology equipped hospitals, the number of medical tourists will rise.
