HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN TURKEY

 Turkeys healthcare services  are very comprehensive and of the highest quality. If you are covered by private or general healthcare insurance, you can benefit from healthcare services in Turkey, depending on your insurance coverage. You have to pay for healthcare services if you are not insured. The Turkish healthcare system includes emergency health services and primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare centers.

Emergency Healthcare Services

Emergency healthcare services include health services provided in the event of an accident, injury, or sudden critical problems with your health.

Ambulance Services: You can receive medical aid by calling 112 in an emergency. When you call 112, you have to provide information such as the location, cause of the emergency, and the number of patients or injured. Emergency 112 authorities may request additional information to offer you proper healthcare services, and it is crucial to provide accurate information. 

Hospital Emergency Services: Emergency departments of hospitals provide 24-hour services. You should use these healthcare services only in case of an emergency, they offer First medical intervention and reception services.

Primary Healthcare Services

Primary healthcare services are provided in Family Health Centers and Voluntary Health Centers. These centers offer ambulatory diagnosis treatment and immunization services to fight against infectious diseases and epidemics, gynecological and reproductive health services, and general infant, child, and adolescent health services.

Secondary Health Facilities: 

Secondary health facilities are state hospitals (not university and research hospitals), branch hospitals, oral and dental health centers, private hospitals, and medical centers.

Tertiary Health Facilities: 

Tertiary health facilities are university and research hospitals, branch hospitals, and university hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health.

In addition to emergency health services, these health facilities provide:

• Ambulatory diagnosis and treatment services.
• Inpatient treatment services.
• Surgical operations.
• Psychiatric services.
• Oral and dental health services.

You can get an appointment with public hospitals by calling 182 or visiting www.hastanerandevu.gov.tr. Getting an appointment reduces your waiting time in hospitals and increases the quality of service you’ll receive. However, university hospitals and private hospitals are not included in the appointment system.

Health Insurance System 

We highly recommend having health insurance during your stay in Turkey in order to benefit from the healthcare system efficiently. If you have private health insurance, you can receive healthcare services depending on your insurance policy coverage. Different insurance companies offer private health insurance policies with different coverages and prices. It is advised to consult insurance agencies and conduct detailed market research to choose the best insurance policy based on your needs. 

The Provincial Directorates of Social Security provides general health insurance in Turkey, which means a public authority gives them. One year of residence is required for general health insurance. Although, foreign nationals who study in Turkey can get a policy upon request within three months from their initial registration, regardless of the one-year residency requirement. You can apply to Provincial Directorates of Social Security with the documents listed below to start general health insurance to ensure you can get Government provided healthcare services.

• Residence permit document. 
• The original document or a copy of the letter indicates the social security status of your health insurance in your home country, which can be obtained from the social security organization or labor attaché office in the relevant foreign country. 
• Commitment (request) form. 

Scope of the General Health Insurance 

Once you are registered in the general health insurance system, you, your spouse, and your children under 18 can benefit from healthcare services. In addition, your children under the age of 20 who attend a high school (or an equivalent school) or have apprenticeship training and vocational training in businesses.

Children under the age of 25, who attend higher education and are unmarried, or who are disabled and not married, your mother and father, who depend on you for subsistence, may also benefit from healthcare services.

General health insurance will be terminated under the following conditions;  

• If your residency permit expires.
• You get insured employment in another country. 
• Inclusion in another coverage of general health insurance.
• Death or disappearance.

The Turkish hospital system is described above in general terms. In addition, foreigners of different statuses can benefit from healthcare services under certain conditions. Ask IDEAL Estates to learn the differences in these situations.

Insurance policies for those who are abroad and under General Health Insurance are not covered by Turkey. However, specific insurance policies covered by reciprocal social security agreements signed with 28 countries may apply in Turkey.

For further information, visit the SGK Website.

Pharmacies and Buying Medication 

If your physician thinks you need medication, he may write a prescription for you. You can get your medicines from a pharmacy. Most pharmacies are open from 9:00 to 19:00. However, every area has a pharmacy that is on night duty (available from 19:00 to 09:00). The address and telephone details of your local pharmacy on night duty are displayed on the window of other pharmacies and published in local newspapers and on the Internet.

If you have private health insurance, you pay for the physician and medication costs at first. Your expenditures are refunded when you present the invoices and prescriptions to the insurance company.