Hospital Selection Guide
We have curated a comprehensive guide to help you choose the right hospital for your medical needs. Make informed decisions with out expert insights and evaluation framework. Here are the key factors to consider
Accreditations & Certifications
Verify that the healthcare/service provider holds the Department of Health’s ‘International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate’
Look for compliance with Sağlıkta Kalite Standartları (SKS) and where applicable accreditation by TÜSKA – Türkiye Sağlık Hizmetleri Kalite ve Akreditasyon Enstitüsü
Some healthcare providers also hold international accreditations like Joint Commission International Accreditation. You can search JSI’s directory here.
Ask the healthcare provider for a copy/number of authorisation certificate and links to reports.
Medical Staff Qualifications
Staff Qualifications and Team Model
Verify the name and title of the lead doctor for your treatment. Titles you will see most frequently are Operator Doctor (Op. Dr.), Specialist Doctor (Uzm. Dr.), Associate Professor (Doç. Dr.), and Professor Doctor (Prof. Dr.)
Inquire about the volume of similar procedures undertaken over the last 12 months by the doctor and risk-adjusted outcomes
Ask for the lead doctor’s medical license number, specialisation certificate (uzmanlık belgesi), and written confirmation of hospital privileges for your procedure.
Make sure the hospital uses a team model with 24/7 anesthesiology and ICU cover, and that treatment decisions are reviewed by specialist groups (e.g., tumor boards, heart teams)
Facilities, Infrastructure & Patient Safety Protocols
Don’t seek Treatment at Healthcare Providers with inadequate Facilities
Hospitals should have a fully equipped ICU and 24/7 emergency cover. Clinics, which won’t have ICUs, must at least provide sterile procedure rooms and have a formal agreement with a nearby hospital in case of complications.
Ask for your healthcare provider’s emergency plan and systems, and the name of their partner hospital (if they are a clinic)
International Patient Support
Communications and Support
A reliable facility offers an International Patient Office or coordinator to guide you. They should provider interpreters, translated documents, and help with appointments, estimates, and after-care.
Ask who your patient coordinator will be and whether you will have a 24/7 contact number.
Informed Consent
Don’t compromise when it comes to Information
Before you agree to any procedure, ask the healthcare provider to clarify the following points:
– What the procedure involves (step-by-step, who performs which part)
– Why it is being recommended over alternatives
– Possible risks and complications, even if rare
– Expected recovery, pain, mobility, dietary restrictions, time off work, when you can travel
– Aftercare (follow-ups, who to contact if problems arise, what support is available once you return home)
Ask for a written consent form in your language. Don’t sign anything until you understand every point
Realistic Pricing and Transparency
Be Cautious and pay Attention to Details
As with everything, you need to be extra cautious if the price and expectations the healthcare provider sets sound too good to be true
You should receive a written treatment plan and cost breakdown showing what’s included and what isn’t.
Clarify aftercare — how long the clinic or hospital follows you, and who manages complications later.
Ask for refund/deposit policies and a written aftercare plan.
Red Flags
Warning signs that should make you reconsider treatment
LACK OF ACCREDITATIONS
Do not seek treatment at a facility that lacks the above-mentioned accreditations or refuses to share details thereof. Medical care and medical tourism are regulated practices in Turkey and you should not be denied access to any information regarding any licensing or authorisation.
Pressure Tactics & Pay Now for a Discount Schemes
Safe providers give patients time to think, ask questions, and make decisions at their own pace. If you are rushed into paying, it usually means the provider is more focused on securing money than on safe, transparent care. Rushed consent is not informed consent. Your doctor should not sound like a salesperson selling you fruits at a market
LANGUAGE
You won’t be able to communicate your needs if your doctor does not speak English and they won’t be able to communicate information that you need. A misunderstanding due to language barriers could lead to complications.
Non-Medical Settings
Never accept treatment in an apartment, hotel, or non-medical setting. These places cannot meet hygiene standards, have no emergency backup, and are often unlicensed.
Poor Communication and Social Media
As a rule of thumb, your doctor should not be sliding into your Facebook DMs. Trust your gut feeling and insist on receiving adequate information. Beware of unrealistic promises, 100% success rates or miracle cures. Ask yourself whether the doctor acts like a professional practicing a regulated profession
No Follow-Up Care
Surgery and medical procedures carry risks, and proper recovery often depends on aftercare and the ability to respond quickly if something goes wrong. If a hospital or clinic does not provide clear instructions for recovery or cannot explain how emergencies are handled, patients are left unprotected once they leave the operating room.
Facility must be authorised/licensed and a medical doctor should perform/supervise key steps; avoid hotel/apartment setups
Confirm graft counts, expected sessions, complication policy, and who provides post‑op follow‑up in your home country
The clinic or hospital must be authorized by the Ministry of Health for international patients, and the operating surgeon must be a board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastik, Rekonstrüktif ve Estetik Cerrahi)
Ask the surgeon to explain the procedure step by step, including anesthesia type, expected scars, recovery time, and potential complications such as infection, bleeding, implant issues, or asymmetry
Confirm the facility has licensed operating theatres that meet surgical safety standards (not just a treatment room)
Review before-and-after photographs of previous patients and ask about their revision rates
Choose hospitals that perform a high number of heart surgeries every year — experience reduces complication risks
Ask if the hospital has a dedicated cardiac ICU with staff trained only in heart patients
Make sure they have a 24/7 catheterisation lab, so emergencies like heart attacks can be treated immediately
Confirm your case will be reviewed by a heart team (surgeons and cardiologists together), not just one doctor
Ask about their structured rehabilitation program to support recovery after surgery
Ensure the hospital uses a tumor board, where oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists all review your case.
Ask for survival rates specific to your type and stage of cancer, not just general figures
Check if they offer clinical trials or advanced therapies for your diagnosis
Confirm that pathology is read by subspecialists and radiotherapy machines are checked regularly for accuracy
Ask about support services: pain relief, diet and nutrition, fertility preservation, and palliative care
Look for hospitals with large volumes of joint replacements or spine surgeries — high case numbers usually mean better outcomes
Ask about their infection rates and revision rates (how often patients need a repeat operation)
Confirm they follow enhanced recovery protocols that help patients walk sooner and reduce complications
Make sure they provide on-site physiotherapy as part of the treatment package
If your case is complex, check they can handle revision surgery themselves rather than referring you elsewhere
Surgery should be managed by a team: surgeon, endocrinologist, dietitian, and psychologist
The hospital must have ICU facilities and emergency protocols to manage rare but serious complications like leaks
Ask whether they use enhanced recovery pathways to speed recovery safely
Insist on a long-term follow-up plan, including blood tests and vitamin checks for years after surgery
Check if they offer telemedicine follow-ups once you are back home
Verify the clinic is licensed and the dentist is registered with the Turkish Dental Association
Ask for a written treatment plan that explains the materials and brands to be used, with a warranty
For complex work, confirm they use CT imaging for planning and partner with a reputable dental lab
Request a clear explanation of how many stages or visits the treatment will require
Treatment must be carried out in a licensed IVF center authorized by the Ministry of Health
Ask for success rates broken down by age and diagnosis, not just overall numbers
Check that the IVF laboratory follows strict quality and safety protocols
Make sure you receive clear consent forms covering embryo storage, use, and what happens to unused embryos
