In general, Turkey's healthcare system is not as advanced as most western European
countries. Health centres are dispersed all over the country but critical
health issues can only be treated in main city centres like Istanbul and Ankara.
On average, there is one hospital bed for 440 inhabitants and the
ratio is even greater between doctors and inhabitants. Life expectancy is
almost 10 years lesser than most developed western European countries.
The quality of Turkish hospitals varies tremendously depending on location
and whether it is privately or publicly funded. Efforts are
being made to improve services and now some hospitals in Istanbul and Ankara
boast of treatments like laser eye correction, plastic surgery,
cosmetic dentistry etc. Istanbul and Ankara have newer, private
facilities with fairly modern equipment and qualified training programs, but
they still may not be able to address all serious medical conditions. The US
State Department recommends that pregnant employees leave the country prior to
giving birth. Foreign residents with chronic ailments are advised to keep
medicines for at least six months as local pharmacies may not always have the
medication you need.
At the surgery, with the doctor (GP)
As in most places, private
hospitals provide better quality service and treatment but are costlier than
state-run centres. These are generally preferred by the middle, upper class and
expat community. Private Healthcare has flourished in Turkey in
the last decade owing to the long queues and impersonal service in State run
hospitals. Most private hospitals have contracts with various insurance
companies making better treatment more accessible.
Below are some of the main private hospitals in Istanbul.
Following are the main State-run
hospitals in Istanbul
For a complete listing of all hospitals in Istanbul, please click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hospitals_in_Istanbul
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