British media accused of distorting Turkish health tourism with misleading reports

The growing Turkish health tourism sector has been experiencing a wave of negative media coverage in the British press.

Over the past five weeks, 18 different articles have been published in major British outlets, including Mirror, Daily Mail, The Sun, The Express, The Independent, and The Telegraph.

These reports focus on medical complications, risks, and alleged poor practices in the Turkish health sector, often using isolated cases to create a broader negative perception.

According to an international media review conducted by FL PR & Communications, British media organizations have targeted Türkiye’s health tourism sector with manipulative news stories.

These articles focus on procedures such as hair transplants, dental treatments, obesity surgeries, and cosmetic operations, often using dramatic headlines and exaggerated narratives. Some reports involve undercover journalists posing as patients to gather material for their stories.

British media publishes 18 negative reports targeting Turkish health tourism

Here are some of the recent reports:

• Belfast Live (Feb. 8) – The article warned that Northern Irish employers might have to grant extra leave to employees who experience complications after undergoing aesthetic procedures in Türkiye. It suggested that Türkiye’s medical sector poses risks that could affect people’s professional and personal lives.
• Daily Mirror (Feb. 21) – This report featured a patient who claimed to have undergone a botched £5,000 ($6,420.82) cosmetic procedure in Türkiye after seeing an ad on Snapchat. The article implied that cosmetic surgery in Türkiye is cheap but unreliable, discouraging potential medical tourists.
• Daily Mirror (Feb. 21) – Another article highlighted a patient who wanted their face to resemble a specific look but was dissatisfied with the results. The report framed Türkiye’s medical tourism sector as risky and unreliable.
• Daily Express (Feb. 19) – The article titled “Experts demand crackdown on rogue medical tourism” framed Türkiye as having inadequate regulations. It generalized a few negative cases to the entire industry, portraying it as unsafe.
• Daily Mail (Feb. 19) – The report featured a man who claimed he spent £10,000 on a hair transplant in Türkiye after being told by women on dating apps that his baldness was unappealing. The article questioned the quality of hair transplants in Türkiye and implied that affordability comes at the expense of safety.

Furkan Luleci warns of systematic effort to damage Turkish health tourism

Furkan Luleci, founder of the London-based global PR firm FL Communications, has described these reports as part of a systematic effort to damage the reputation of Turkish health tourism.

He discussed concerns that some organizations in the U.K., including the National Health Service (NHS), may be funding these media campaigns to discourage medical tourism to Türkiye, as reported by Turizm Ajansi.

The 18 articles we identified over the last five weeks indicate a deliberate smear campaign. Reports exaggerate isolated incidents, falsely portraying Turkish health tourism sector as unsafe. Claims that patients have lost their teeth, suffered after hair transplants, or died from cosmetic procedures are either misleading or deliberately distorted.

Luleci stated

Luleci also emphasized the importance of strengthening legal and strategic communication measures to counter misinformation.

He called for increased international engagement from Türkiye’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade, and the International Health Services Inc. (USHAS) to provide accurate information about the country’s health tourism sector.

Türkiye’s growing health tourism industry faces misinformation and media bias

Türkiye has become one of the top destinations for health tourism, offering high-quality medical care at competitive prices. In 2024, Türkiye welcomed 2 million health tourists, generating $3 billion in revenue.

The country’s modern hospitals, internationally accredited facilities, and experienced medical professionals make Turkish health tourism a leading player in the industry.

Despite this success, Luleci believes that the Turkish health tourism sector must adopt a more proactive public relations strategy to combat negative media narratives.

Türkiye has established itself as a reliable health tourism hub, but these misleading stories aim to damage its reputation. We need a strong PR and perception management strategy. If we do not take control of our own narrative, others will distort it.

The recent International Health Tourism Fair in London brought this issue to light, with undercover journalists disguising themselves as patients to produce misleading reports about Turkish clinics.

Luleci urged Turkish authorities and healthcare providers to collaborate on a long-term media strategy to protect the sector’s reputation.

He called on stakeholders to address misinformation, promote transparency, and reinforce Türkiye’s position as a trusted medical tourism destination.