Universal social insurance ('Genel Sağlık Sigortası', run by SGK) funds a large public network plus contracted private hospitals. Turkey is among the world's biggest medical- and dental-tourism destinations — dentistry, hair transplants, eye and cosmetic surgery — centred on Istanbul, Antalya and Izmir.
Emergency number: 112
Public specialist waits are short by European standards. Private and international-patient units typically see you within a few days.
MHRS shows next available public appointments; no single national elective register ↗
| Milestone | Reference |
|---|---|
| Public specialist appointment (MHRS, typical) | 14 days (~2w) |
| Private / international-patient appointment | 3 days (~0w) |
Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Private GP / specialist consultation | €20–€60 |
| Private MRI | €60–€150 |
| Cataract surgery, per eye (private) | €700–€1,500 |
| Hip replacement (private, total) | €6,000–€10,000 |
| LASIK, both eyes (private) | €1,200–€2,500 |
SGK covers most medicines with a roughly 10–20% co-payment (less for pensioners). Out-of-pocket prices are low.
No EHIC. A UK–Turkey social security agreement gives UK residents limited necessary state treatment during temporary stays, but it is narrow and little used — most visitors rely on insurance and private hospitals.