What is Health Tourism?
Health tourism is when people travel to another country and benefit from tourism services in order to protect and improve their health status or to be treated if they have any disease. The person who travels with this intention is called a "health tourist".
While in the past years, health tourism was mostly made to developed countries with better health opportunities, the countries visited by patients in recent years have differentiated. It is seen that people in the developed country group also visit to other locations for affordable costs and alternative treatment options.
Types of Health Tourism
The services provided within the scope of health tourism are divided into 4 main groups according to the content of the service and the preferences of the people who benefit from it.
1) Medical Tourism: It covers all the activities and procedures performed to treat the patients who want to receive health care and to improve their health status. These include hair transplant surgeries, dental treatments, medical check-ups, general health monitorings, heart surgeries, prostheses, cancer treatments, and organ transplants.
2) Thermal Tourism: Mineral mineral waters have relaxing, strengthening and therapeutic properties on patients. The facilities used for these purposes are evaluated within the scope of thermal tourism. It is also a health practice that dates back to the Sumerians.
3) Elderly tourism: It refers to tourism activities that provide services that generally provide care and rehabilitation of elderly people. It is also called "3rd age tourism" in Turkey. These activities are also carried out for the purpose of resting, having fun and experiencing the feeling of rebirth. It is also supported by the facilities and programs established to enable this group of people to lead a better life. Elderly tourism is part of the concept of healthy aging and aims to encourage participation in social life.
4) Disabled tourism: Clinics that meet the special care and rehabilitation needs of people with disabilities are considered within this title.
Things Required to Provide Health Tourism Services
Institutions or organizations that want to provide health tourism services should be competent for these services. If it is a hospital or clinic, there must be no shortage of technological equipment, specialist doctors and personnel. In addition, items such as transportation and accommodation are also included in the services.
A person who wants to receive health tourism service should be able to easily stay in the country where they prefer. It is necessary to prepare a plan that can meet all the needs and demands of patients, considering the existing facilities in other tourism centers in this country.
If certain criteria are met, the company must also have the International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate. Institutions or organizations show that they are ready to serve in this field legally by having this document.
Being an A-Group travel agency is also one of the conditions in order to have the document. For providing health tourism services in any country, it is important to know the legislation of that country well. This legislation may vary from region to region, but mostly similar sanctions are applied.
Turkey in Health Tourism
Especially in the rapidly growing and expanding health tourism in the globalizing world, Turkey has started to shine especially in recent years. Sector-oriented investments and incentives, which are also included in state planning, the presence of qualified and trained health personnel, high-level hospitals and clinics make Turkey a preferable destination.
In addition, a patient who comes for treatment has the opportunity to experience historical and cultural textures in cities such as Istanbul, Izmir and Bursa. When accommodation in 5-star hotels and transportation by VIP vehicles are added to these services, it is not a coincidence that Turkey ranks first in the answer to the question of which country should I choose for health tourism.
As Majestic Clinic, we offer many services within the scope of health tourism in a quality and safe manner. We plan the entire treatment process of our patients and ensure that they go back to their countries happily.