Turkey has the potential to become one of the most important medical tourism destinations in the world due to its accredited medical premises with high-quality and lower cost medical treatment, well-qualified and well-educated physicians, modern technological infrastructure, geographic and climatic advantages, natural resources and historical sites. The advantages of Turkish private healthcare sector are summarized as follows:

*State-of-the-art technology and infrastructure:
high level medical technologies such as Gammaknife, Cyberknife PET-CT, Intraoperative MRI, da Vinci surgery robot, Radiparc, IGRT and other modern medical technologies are used efficiently and successfully by public and private clinics in Turkey.

*Top quality services:
Turkey has almost 50 medical facilities (41 of which are hospitals)
accredited by the Joint Commission International-JCI (US-based standards agency and the global arm of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organisations).

Turkey also ranks third in the list of JCI accredited hospitals in the world.

*Competitive prices:
The financial structure of the healthcare in Turkey as well as its dynamic and efficient operational processes enable Turkish medical services to compete with its equivalents in Europe and the US. The Turkish government has launched numerous incentive programs for the promotion of the Turkish health care sector abroad. Half of the flight costs of international patients traveling to Turkey for medical treatment is covered by the Ministry of Economy.

*Easy access to medical services:
Due to the recent investments in the private healthcare sector as well as sufficient capacity in hospitals, waiting lists for medical services in private clinics in Turkey is a rare pheonomenon.

*Geographical location and easy transportation:
Turkey is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. A widespread flight network of Turkish Airlines also creates an advantage. Turkish Airlines has arrangements with numerous healthcare organizations since 2009 according to which discounts and incentives are provided for patients who choose Turkey for treatment.

*A leading tourism destination:
Turkey is an attractive destination for medical travellers due to its cultural, natural, historical assets. In 2014, 37 million tourists visited Turkey.

In 2013, 390.000 international patients (120.000 in public hospitals, 270.000 in private hospitals)
received medical treatment in Turkey. The majority of the medical tourists came from Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Russia, Azerbaijan, Libya, Iraq benefiting from the high quality and affordable healthcare treatment in Turkey.

Patients mostly prefer the following medical treatments in Turkey: Cardiology and Cardiovascular surgery; Organ and Bone Marrow Transplantation (Living Donor Liver and Kidney Transplantations); Oncological Treatments (Medical & Surgical and Radiation including Gammaknife and Cyberknife); In Vitro Fertilisation; Orthopaedics and Traumatology; Spine Surgery and Neurosurgery; Ophthalmology (Intralasik, Ilasik, Retina surgery); Plastic Surgery; Dental Services.

Highly qualified healthcare institutions in Turkey along with the growing trend to travel to Turkey for medical purposes attract international investors in Turkish medical tourism sector. Integrated Healthcare Holdings and Bagan Lalang have acquired 75% of Acibadem Healthcare Group in 2011. Global Environment Fund acquired Dentistanbul in 2010. Marfin Investment Group established partnership with Şafak Hospitals in 2008. Carlyle Group, formerly known as Turkven Pivate Equity Fund, established partnership with Medical Park Hospitals in 2008. National Bank of Kuwait acquired Dünya Eye Hospitals in 2010. ARGUS Capital/Qatar First Investment Bank established partnership with Memorial Health Group. MidEuropa Private Equity acquired 90% share of Izmir Kent Hospital.

Health Tourism Business Council operating under the aegis of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) brings all stakeholders of the health sector including prominent hospital

groups, clinics, public and private institution representatives in a single platform. Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkish Airlines are represented in the Council.

Health Tourism Business Council provides international patient services such as bilingual doctors and nurses, airport-hospital transfers, follow-up after the procedures. For inquiries, comments and questions, Health Tourism Business Council can be contacted at saik@deik.org.tr