Türkiye launches new health tourism portal to standardize services
HealthTürkiye's logo, accessed on, April 26, 2025. (Photo via HealthTürkiye website)
Türkiye has implemented extensive new regulations aimed at standardizing and closely monitoring health tourism services across the country, according to a detailed regulation published Saturday in the Official Gazette.
New centralized portal to streamline patient experience
The “International Health Tourism and Tourist Health Regulation,” prepared by Türkiye’s Ministry of Health, introduces comprehensive oversight of the rapidly growing medical tourism sector through a centralized online platform called HealthTürkiye.
This digital infrastructure will serve as the backbone for all health tourism operations in the country.
Under the new regulation, all health facilities and intermediary organizations operating in the medical tourism sector must fully integrate with the HealthTürkiye portal. This integration requirement applies to hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities that cater to international patients.
“All services provided within the scope of health tourism will be trackable through the HealthTürkiye portal, and patients will be able to view the services they receive through the portal,” states the regulation. This transparency measure aims to build greater trust with international patients who may be concerned about receiving medical care in a foreign country.
The portal will allow patients to monitor their entire medical journey, from initial consultations through procedures and follow-up care. This patient-centered approach reflects Türkiye’s commitment to enhancing the overall experience for health tourists.
Mandatory insurance and quality certification requirements
The new rules establish stricter operating requirements for medical facilities serving international patients.
Health facilities must now obtain complication insurance for all surgical procedures performed in operating rooms for medical tourists, providing an additional layer of security for patients undergoing treatments.
Additionally, all health facilities participating in health tourism must acquire internationally recognized accreditation and certification from the Turkish Health Services Quality and Accreditation Institute (TUSKA).
International Health Services Inc. (USHAS), a government entity, will take on an expanded role in supporting and monitoring the sector.
USHAS will assist health facilities and intermediary organizations on international platforms while overseeing the issuance of authorization certificates to intermediary companies that connect patients with medical providers.
Enhanced patient support systems and language accessibility
The regulation mandates that health facilities and intermediary organizations assign a dedicated staff member responsible for each health tourist to monitor service delivery throughout their medical journey. The personalized approach ensures that international patients have a point of contact to address any concerns that may arise during their treatment in Türkiye.
Facilities will also be able to provide telemedicine services for international patients, expanding access to Türkiye’s healthcare system beyond physical visits.
All such remote health services must be announced through the HealthTürkiye portal to maintain transparency.
Communication capabilities receive particular attention in the new regulations. All health facilities and intermediary organizations must create websites with foreign language options to better serve international patients. Health facilities must employ at least one staff member with certified foreign language skills in their international health tourism units.
Taking communication requirements a step further, intermediary organizations are required to provide call services in at least two foreign languages, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This around-the-clock support system addresses the needs of patients from different time zones and ensures assistance is available in case of emergencies.
Implementation timeline, quality assessment measures
The regulation establishes a clear timeline for compliance. Health facilities and intermediary organizations already operating with Health Tourism Authorization Certificates have six months to comply with the basic requirements of the new regulations.
They have until the end of 2025 to obtain the newly required complication insurance and until the end of 2026 to acquire the mandatory accreditation and certification from TUSKA.
To maintain quality standards, all health facilities and intermediary organizations will be continually evaluated based on patient complaint rates and satisfaction surveys. The HealthTürkiye Performance Criteria will determine whether authorization certificates remain valid, and these certificates cannot be transferred between organizations.
The International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate will maintain its validity based on adherence to the HealthTürkiye Performance Criteria, ensuring ongoing compliance with quality standards.
This systematic approach to quality assessment aims to continuously improve patient experiences and outcomes in Türkiye’s health tourism sector.
These comprehensive regulations reflect Türkiye’s strategic commitment to strengthening its position in the global health tourism market by enhancing patient protection, service quality, and transparency across all aspects of medical care for international visitors.
