Medicine and health in Turkey

If you use the public health system (SGK)

• Access to public hospitals and clinics is available to those who are connected to the SGK social insurance system.
• The first step is to register with a family doctor (Aile Hekimi) — they conduct basic examinations and issue referrals to specialists.
• ❗️ Without a referral to a specialist, you will usually not be accepted, or the appointment will be paid.

Appointments at public institutions can be made:

• through the national portal MHRS.gov.tr (Merkezi Hekim Randevu Sistemi);
  
• through the mobile application MHRS Mobil;
  
• by calling 182 (English-speaking operators are available).

⏳ Waiting time: in large cities, appointments may be available in a few days, but in rural areas, you may have to wait longer.

If you are seeking private medical care

• Private clinics and hospitals accept patients more quickly and often have English-speaking staff.
• No referral is required — you can make an appointment with any specialist immediately.
• You can make an appointment online on the clinic's website, by phone, or in person.
• The cost of a consultation averages between €30 and €50, but may be more expensive in large cities (Istanbul, Ankara).

Popular private clinic chains:

• Acıbadem Hospitals Group — one of the largest private chains;
  
• Medicana — modern hospitals with many departments;
• Memorial Hospitals — well-known international clinics.

Insurance and appointments with private doctors

Most private clinics accept patients with international insurance policies. If you have insurance, the clinic will bill the insurance company directly. Without a policy, you will have to pay for the appointment in full.

➡️ Take out insurance that is valid in Turkey: it will cover visits to doctors, tests, and emergency treatment. This is especially important in the first few weeks while you are still waiting to be connected to SGK.

Important information for Ukrainians

• In public hospitals, staff rarely speak English, so it is useful to have an interpreter or a translation app.
• To make an appointment through MHRS, you need a Turkish identification number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası), which you will receive after obtaining a residence permit.

If you only have a tourist visa, you can only go to private clinics with international insurance.

In Turkey, access to healthcare depends directly on having an insurance policy. There are three main options: state SGK, private insurance, and international policies for tourists and newcomers.

State insurance (SGK)

SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu) is the state social insurance system. It covers most of the costs of treatment in public hospitals and clinics.

Who can join:

• Turkish citizens;
  
• foreigners with a work visa or employment contract (the employer is obliged to enroll the employee);
• students and residents with a residence permit (ikamet) who sign a special agreement with SGK.

SGK covers:

• consultations with a family doctor and specialists by referral;
  
• hospitalization and operations in public hospitals;
  
• part of the cost of medicines from the reimbursement list;
• basic tests and diagnostics.

Private insurance

Private insurance is required in several cases:

• to obtain a tourist, student, or work visa;
  
• to apply for a residence permit (ikamet);
  
• in the first months after arrival, while you do not yet have access to SGK.

It allows you to go to private clinics and choose the best service: quick appointments, English-speaking staff, modern equipment.

What a private policy usually covers:

• consultations with doctors in private clinics;
  
• hospitalization and surgery;
  
• emergency care;
  
• part of the cost of medicines.

Insurance for tourists

Tourists from Ukraine must have an international insurance policy for the entire duration of their stay in Turkey. Without it, any consultation or hospitalization will be paid for entirely out of pocket.

The policy must include:

• treatment in case of illness or injury;
  
• hospitalization and surgery;
  
• emergency care;
  
• repatriation in serious cases.

Important for Ukrainians to know

• Without insurance, you cannot obtain a residence permit in Turkey.
  
• Even with SGK, many foreigners purchase private insurance to use private clinics.
  
• When visiting a hospital, be sure to bring your passport, insurance policy, and residence permit (if you have one).

If you have temporary protection status

After the war began, Turkey introduced special assistance mechanisms for Ukrainians arriving for long-term stays. Holders of a residence permit (ikamet) or those who are officially employed or studying can enroll in the SGK state insurance program.

In this case, the following are provided free of charge or with partial compensation:

• consultations with a family doctor (Aile Hekimi);
  
• appointments with specialists upon referral;
  
• hospitalization in public hospitals;
  
• emergency care;
  
• most basic medicines from the reimbursement list.

If you are in Turkey on a tourist or short-term visa

All medical expenses are paid independently or through private insurance. Tourists are not entitled to free treatment in public institutions, except in emergency cases where there is a threat to life.

What is not covered even for residents

Even with SGK, there is a list of services that are paid for separately:

• dentistry (most services);
  
• plastic surgery and cosmetology;
  
• some expensive medicines and medical devices;
  
• treatment in private clinics (covered only by private insurance).

Documents confirming the right to free services

• foreign passport;
  
• residence permit (ikamet) or work/student permit;
  
• insurance policy (SGK or private).

Important to know

• Emergency care is provided to everyone, but if you do not have insurance, you will have to pay the bill in full.
  
• If you have problems confirming your rights or you have been billed for free services, you should seek legal advice.

🚨 If you are denied medical services

In Turkey, there are situations when a patient is billed for treatment that should be free or is denied assistance due to a lack of documents. In such cases, it is important to know that you are entitled to medical care in accordance with your status and insurance conditions.

Visit Ukraine lawyers will help:

• determine whether the claims of the hospital or insurance company are legitimate;
  
• prepare an official appeal or complaint;
  
• accompany the process of returning unlawfully collected funds.

Pharmacies (eczane) in Turkey are not only places where you can buy medicine, but also the first point of contact for medical advice. Pharmacists are usually well versed in basic symptoms and can recommend over-the-counter medications or advise when it is necessary to see a doctor.

Where to find a pharmacy

Pharmacies are easy to find: they always have a large red sign that says “Eczane.”

• In large cities, pharmacies are open Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Most are closed on Sundays, but there is a system of on-call pharmacies (nöbetçi eczane). You can check their addresses on the website eczaneler.org.tr or simply type “nöbetçi eczane near me” into Google.
  
• In tourist areas, pharmacies often have English-speaking staff, which is convenient for foreigners.

📎 Example: if you get sick in the evening in Antalya, just type “nöbetçi eczane Antalya” into the search engine, and you will see a list of open pharmacies with maps.

Over-the-counter and prescription drugs

The sale of medicines is strictly controlled in Turkey.

• Over-the-counter medicines include painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen), cold remedies, allergy medications, antiseptics, and vitamins.
  
• Prescription medicines include antibiotics, hormonal drugs, and potent medications.

❗️ Even if you show packaging from Ukraine, the pharmacy is not allowed to dispense an equivalent without a prescription from a local doctor.

How to get a prescription

• Most often, prescriptions are written by your family doctor (Aile Hekimi).
• For chronic illnesses, the doctor can write a prescription for several months at once.
• State clinics use a system of electronic prescriptions (e-reçete). The pharmacy only needs to enter your identification number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası) to immediately see the prescription.

📎 Tip: if you have just arrived and do not yet have a residence permit, you can get a prescription from a private clinic. In this case, you will have to pay for the medication yourself if you do not have insurance.

Online orders and consultations

In recent years, online medication ordering services have become widespread in Turkey. Delivery is available mainly in large cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir). You can order both over-the-counter drugs and those prescribed by a doctor (if you have an electronic prescription).

Online consultations are also popular: through DoktorTakvimi or mobile applications of private clinics, you can get a doctor's advice and a prescription without leaving your home.

Ukrainian equivalents

Brand names in Turkey often differ from those in Ukraine. In this case, you should ask the pharmacist to select a drug based on its active ingredient (etkin madde).

For example, instead of the familiar “No-shpa,” in Turkey you will be offered an analogue with the active ingredient drotaverin.

📎 Tip: Make a list of your regular medications in English or Latin to avoid confusion with names.

In Turkey, the emergency medical system operates according to European standards: assistance is provided to everyone without exception, even if you do not have documents or insurance. However, the issue of payment is resolved later, so it is important to know the rules to avoid unexpected expenses.

How to call an ambulance

• The main emergency number is 112. The call is free and operates 24 hours a day.
  
• Operators usually speak Turkish, but in large cities you can ask for an English interpreter.
  
• In non-emergency cases, you can contact the nearest Acil Servis department (emergency department in any hospital).

Do they provide services without insurance

Yes, in life-threatening situations, they are required to provide assistance even without insurance or a residence permit. However, once your condition has stabilized, the hospital will bill you if you do not have SGK or private insurance.

• For Ukrainians with international insurance, the costs are usually covered by the insurance company.
• For those who are connected to SGK, most of the costs are covered by the state.
  
• For tourists without a policy, hospitalization can cost hundreds of euros per day.

When is assistance free

• If you have SGK, emergency assistance and hospitalization in state institutions are covered.
• If you are a tourist with an international policy, the bill is sent directly to the insurance company.
  
• In life-threatening situations (car accident, heart attack), assistance is provided free of charge immediately, and the issue of compensation is resolved later.

Hospitalization: how it works

• The patient is taken to the nearest hospital to the Acil Servis department.
  
• In public hospitals, the cost of a bed is significantly lower than in private ones.
  
• SGK usually covers 70-90% of the costs, with the rest paid by the patient or mutuelle (if available).
• In private clinics without insurance, the bill can exceed €1,000 for a few days' stay.

What documents to have with you

To avoid problems with hospital registration:

• passport or ID;
  
• insurance policy (SGK or private);
  
• residence permit (ikamet) or foreigner identification number.

📎 Tip: even if you don't have a policy, take all your medical documents and receipts — you can submit them to your insurance company or lawyer for reimbursement.

If you are billed for emergency care in Turkey

1. Check the basis for payment

• If you have SGK (state insurance), emergency services in state institutions are usually covered in full.
  
• If you are a tourist with an international policy, the bill should be sent directly to the insurance company.
  
• If you do not have insurance, the hospital may require payment, but sometimes the amount is charged incorrectly or is inflated.

• hospital bill;
  
• medical call report (usually issued at the Acil Servis department);
  
• copies of your passport, insurance, ikamet (if available).

If you have been issued an unjustified bill for ambulance or emergency treatment, Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you:

• check the legitimacy of the claims;
  
• prepare an appeal to the hospital;
  
• get a refund or have the payment canceled.

Proper preparation for the trip will help you avoid unpredictable situations and make access to medical care in Turkey much easier.

What documents should you have with you

• foreign passport;
• medical insurance policy (mandatory for tourists and those applying for a visa or residence permit);
• residence permit (ikamet) and Yabancı Kimlik Numarası — for long-term residents;
• a list of medications you take regularly, indicating the active ingredient.

Useful mobile apps

• MHRS Mobil — the official app for making appointments with public doctors.
• e-Nabız — electronic patient medical record.
• DoktorTakvimi — online appointment booking with private doctors, convenient for foreigners.
• Google Maps — search for the nearest pharmacies (eczane) and pharmacies on duty on weekends.

Official portals

• mhrs.gov.tr — appointments with doctors in public clinics.
• sgk.gov.tr — information about SGK public insurance.
• saglik.gov.tr — Turkish Ministry of Health.
• eczaneler.org.tr — search for pharmacies and pharmacies on duty.

Emergency numbers

• 112 — ambulance.
• 110 — fire department.
• 155 — police.
• 156 — gendarmerie (in rural areas).