Health Services, Medical Tourism and Private Hospital Disputes in Turkey
Information for Foreign Patients and Medical Tourists
Turkey has become a global hub for hair transplantation, dental treatment, aesthetic surgery and other medical tourism services. At the same time, millions of tourists each year need urgent treatment at public or private hospitals. Foreign patients should understand how emergency care, patient rights and compensation claims work under Turkish law.
1. Emergency treatment and unlawful charges
Under Turkish health legislation and administrative circulars, emergency care and stabilisation must be provided without delay and, in principle, cannot be refused because of payment issues. For foreign tourists who have no Turkish social security, emergency health services in life-threatening situations are, in essence, free of charge for the initial intervention, especially in public institutions.
In practice, however, some hospitals – particularly private ones – may:
- ask for payment or a credit card before treating an emergency patient,
- charge “emergency packages” or intensive care fees that should not be billed, or
- keep the patient or passport as leverage for payment.
If you believe you were wrongfully charged for emergency care:
- request an itemised invoice in English or Turkish,
- file a complaint with the hospital’s Patient Rights Unit and the Provincial Health Directorate,
- keep all medical and billing documents; and
- where appropriate, use consumer law mechanisms (consumer arbitration committee / consumer court) against private hospitals, because the relationship is also a service contract.
Recent high-profile incidents involving tourists have shown that failures in both safety standards and hospital response can have tragic consequences, reinforcing the importance of enforcement and patient rights awareness.
2. Medical tourism: hair, dental and aesthetic procedures
Health tourism (including hair transplants, dental implants and plastic surgery) is regulated by a dedicated Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health, which was substantially updated in April 2025 to strengthen standards and digital oversight.
Key points for foreign patients:
- Clinics and hospitals that treat international patients must hold an International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Ministry of Health.
- Intermediary “health tourism agencies” arranging your travel and treatment must also be authorised and are subject to supervision.
- Authorised providers must meet minimum quality, patient safety and interpretation standards, and record your health data in line with Turkish data-protection law.
Before travelling, you should always ask the clinic and any agency for proof of authorisation and check that the treatment contract and consent form are provided in a language you understand.
3. Informed consent and “signature only” problems
Under the Patient Rights Regulation and general medical ethics rules, treatment must be based on informed consent: you have the right to be told about your diagnosis, treatment options, risks, alternatives and costs, and to accept or refuse treatment except in limited emergency situations.
A frequent complaint in medical tourism is “paper consent only”:
- the patient is given lengthy consent forms (often in Turkish) right before surgery;
- there is little or no explanation of risks, alternatives or realistic expectations;
- translators are absent or clearly biased towards the clinic.
Such practices may violate patient-rights legislation and weaken the clinic’s defence if a dispute arises. However, lack of proper consent does not automatically prove malpractice; courts still examine whether the medical act itself met professional standards.
To protect yourself, insist on:
- a consultation where the doctor personally explains the procedure and risks,
- a written consent form in a language you understand,
- copies of all documents you sign and pre-operative photos / tests.
4. Malpractice, complications and compensation claims
If something goes seriously wrong – for example, severe infection after hair transplantation, nerve damage after dental work, or life-threatening complications after cosmetic surgery – the key legal question is whether the outcome is a recognised complication or the result of negligence (malpractice).
Under the Turkish Code of Obligations, doctors and hospitals have a contractual and tort-based duty of care. They are expected to act with the attention and expertise of a reasonably competent professional; even “slight negligence” can trigger liability.
For private hospitals and clinics, the courts treat the relationship as a patient admission / treatment contract and often hold the institution liable under Article 66 TBK (employer / organisational liability) for the acts of its staff and for systemic failures (such as poor protocols, infection control or supervision).
Foreign patients have, in principle, the same rights as Turkish patients. They can:
- file a complaint with the hospital, the Provincial Health Directorate or professional chambers;
- seek compensation in civil courts for material damages (additional treatment costs, loss of income) and moral damages (pain, suffering, aesthetic damage) under both contractual and tort liability;
- in serious cases, initiate criminal complaints for negligent injury or manslaughter.
Expert medical reports are almost always required, and proceedings can be lengthy. For cross-border patients, it is essential to keep: operative reports, photos, medication lists, and correspondence with the clinic or agency.
5. Liability of intermediary health tourism companies
Many foreign patients sign contracts not only with the clinic or hospital but also with a health tourism agency that organises flights, hotels, translators and appointments.
Under the health tourism regulations, these intermediaries must:
- be authorised by the Ministry of Health;
- provide transparent information about the healthcare provider;
- avoid misleading advertising about “guaranteed results,” “no risks,” or “lifetime warranty.”
Where an agency has misrepresented the qualifications of a clinic, concealed risks, or failed to provide promised assistance after complications, it may share contractual and tort liability with the clinic, and can also face administrative sanctions (including loss of authorisation).
6. Practical steps if you have a dispute
If you experience a serious problem with a hospital, clinic or health tourism agency in Turkey:
- Seek immediate medical help from an independent provider, preferably in a public university or training hospital, and keep all records.
- Submit a written complaint to the Patient Rights Unit of the hospital and to the Provincial Health Directorate.
- For private hospitals and agencies, consider using consumer mechanisms (mediation, consumer arbitration committees, consumer courts) as well as standard civil courts.
- Consult a Turkish lawyer experienced in health law and medical tourism to evaluate evidence, deadlines and the most appropriate jurisdiction (Turkey and/or your home country).
This text provides general information and cannot replace personalised legal advice. If you are a foreign patient planning treatment in Turkey or facing a dispute with a hospital, clinic or medical tourism company, you should obtain individual guidance under Turkish law.
Yanıt yok