Turkey’s rise as a healthcare tourism destination and lessons for Nigeria

Healthcare tourism is a rapidly growing industry that involves individuals travelling across international borders to receive medical treatments, procedures, or healthcare services. This phenomenon has gained significant traction in recent years due to several driving factors.

One of the primary reasons for the rise of medical tourism is the disparity in healthcare costs between countries. Many individuals, especially those from developed nations with higher healthcare expenses, seek medical treatments in developing countries where the costs are significantly lower. This cost advantage can be substantial, even after factoring in travel expenses, making medical tourism an attractive option for those seeking affordable healthcare solutions.

In addition to cost savings, medical tourism offers patients the opportunity to combine medical treatments with recreational activities or tourism experiences. Some destinations have strategically marketed themselves as medical tourism hubs, offering not only topnotch healthcare facilities but also attractive tourism packages that allow patients to recover in a relaxing and rejuvenating environment.

The availability of specialised treatments and cutting-edge medical technologies in certain countries has also fuelled the growth of medical tourism. Patients may travel to countries that excel in specific medical fields, such as cosmetic surgery, dentistry, fertility treatments, or alternative therapies, to receive high-quality care that may not be readily available or as advanced in their home countries.

At the recently held 6th Global Healthcare Travel Forum and Conference in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Emin Çakmak, the Founding Chairman of the Global Healthcare Travel Council and President of the Turkish Healthcare Tourism Development Council, delivered a speech that highlighted Turkey’s remarkable journey in becoming a preferred global healthcare travel destination. The conference, attended by representatives from 56 countries, including Nigeria’s Doctorcare247, provided valuable insights into the factors driving Turkey’s success in the medical tourism industry.

Over the past two decades, Turkey has invested heavily in its healthcare infrastructure, allocating more than $50 billion to build new hospitals and acquire the latest medical technologies. This investment has enabled the country to offer world-class medical services, including cutting-edge treatments such as CyberKnife, GammaKnife, TrueBeam, and da Vinci robotic surgery, as well as advanced stem cell therapies and organ transplantation procedures.

Furthermore, Turkey boasts of a highly skilled medical workforce, with over 15,000 doctors who have graduated from Western and Turkish medical universities. This pool of talented healthcare professionals, combined with state-of-the-art facilities, has positioned Turkey as a formidable player in the global healthcare travel market.

Turkey’s success in healthcare tourism can be attributed to the convergence of several factors, including its world-class medical services, well-developed hospitality infrastructure, geographical convenience, and natural beauty. This unique combination has made the country an attractive destination for various healthcare travel segments, such as medical treatment, wellness, spa and thermalism, sports medicine, retirement, and accessible tourism.

Like Turkey, Nigeria must prioritise investments in modern healthcare facilities, cutting-edge medical technologies, and the training and retention of skilled healthcare professionals. Upgrading hospitals with modern equipment and technology is crucial to attracting patients seeking advanced medical care. This will not only improve the quality of healthcare services for Nigerians but also position the country as a competitive medical tourism destination.

Turkey’s success has been facilitated by collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors. Nigeria should explore similar partnerships to leverage the expertise and resources of both sectors, fostering an environment conducive to healthcare tourism growth.

Collaboration, however, remains the key. By sharing knowledge, fostering partnerships between hospitals and medical professionals, and advocating for continued government support, both Turkey and Nigeria can become regional leaders in medical tourism, ultimately contributing to a future where high-quality healthcare is accessible to all.