Health Tourism and Oncology

21.03.2024

HEALTH TOURISM AND CANCER TREATMENT

Health tourism is the process of traveling outside one's own country to receive health care or treatment. Health tourism is generally divided into two main categories: treatment-oriented health tourism and recovery, recreation-oriented tourism. Treatment-focused medical tourism generally involves travel for medical procedures that involve lower costs, shorter waiting times, superior treatment technologies, or specialized treatments not available in some countries. Such treatments may include surgical procedures, dental treatments, cosmetic surgery, and more complex medical interventions. Tourism focused on recovery and relaxation generally includes visits to thermal springs, spas or wellness centers. This type of tourism focuses on improving visitors' overall health and well-being, reducing stress and cleansing toxins from their bodies. In some cases, such tourism activities can be combined with alternative treatment methods or natural forms of therapy.

Health tourism has become an increasingly global industry and makes significant contributions to the economies of many countries around the world. The popularity of medical tourism stems from global differences in the cost, accessibility and quality of healthcare. Factors such as patient safety, treatment quality and ethical standards play an important role in health tourism, and health institutions and destinations operating in this field pay special attention to these factors.

The rise of health tourism is also associated with patients and consumers seeking more options and flexibility in accessing health services, easier global transportation, and increased flow of information. Health tourism offers economic opportunities not only for patients but also for countries that provide health services. This situation encourages investment in healthcare and providing competitive and innovative services in this field.

Image 1: Health tourism can be focused on treatment or recovery-rest.

COUNTRIES THAT PROVIDE HEALTH TOURISM

Some countries stand out in the field of health tourism. By 2023, the health tourism industry looks hopeful to recover from the challenges arising from Covid-19 travel restrictions and global economic uncertainties. In this context, countries such as India, Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey have made great developments in health tourism.

India has launched the "Heal in India" campaign to promote health tourism. Income from health tourism in Malaysia was growing at an annual rate of 16% in the pre-pandemic period and attracted 1.2 million visitors in 2019. Thailand accounts for a large portion of the world health tourism market and attracts visitors from the United States and Europe. Türkiye, on the other hand, showed significant growth in health tourism in 2021 and attracted 640,000 visitors. On the other hand, while Brazil has created a center in the field of cosmetic surgery and dental tourism, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are leaders in health and wellness tourism in the Middle East. South Korea, on the other hand, is a growing player in health tourism in Asia and has gained a reputation especially in oncology, cardiology, organ transplantation and aesthetic-cosmetic treatments.

These countries attract attention on a global scale with the differentiated services, affordable costs and high-quality medical care they offer in the health tourism sector. The health tourism market is expected to continue to change dynamically and rapidly in the coming years.

HEALTH TOURISM IN TURKEY

Turkey has shown significant development in the field of health tourism in recent years and has become a center attracting attention worldwide. This success of our country in health tourism is based on a number of factors such as its developed medical infrastructure, high-quality health services, affordable costs and the advantages of its geographical location. It stands out especially in the fields of cosmetic surgery, dental treatments, hair transplantation and thermal tourism. Turkey's rise in this field has been supported by treatment options and the quality of healthcare services that have become attractive to foreign patients.

Turkey has exhibited a rapid recovery and growth in the field of health tourism, and a significant increase in the number of foreign patients has been observed in the post-pandemic period. Turkey has provided various incentives and support to support the health tourism sector, and has also given importance to international promotion and marketing activities. These efforts make Turkey a preferred center in health tourism and enable the country to reach a globally competitive position in this field.

Turkey's success in health tourism shows the country's capacity to provide high standards of health services and its potential to be an effective player in the global health tourism market. Health tourism is expected to make significant contributions to Turkey's economy and international image in the future.

Image 2: In health tourism, treatment processes are carried out in many different branches of medicine such as hair transplantation, dental and eye treatments.

FEATURED MEDICAL BRANCHES

Türkiye has become an important destination in various branches of health tourism. Some healthcare services and treatments in the country are especially popular among international patients:

Medical Tourism: Türkiye offers a wide range of medical treatments and procedures. This includes cosmetic surgery, dental treatments, organ transplants and cancer therapies. Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya are among popular cities for medical tourism.

Wellness and Spa Tourism:Turkey is known for its thermal spas, mineral-rich mud baths and traditional baths. There are many wellness resorts and thermal spa centers in cities such as Pamukkale, Afyon and Bursa.

Hair Transplantation:Turkey, especially Istanbul, is considered a worldwide leader in hair transplantation. There are experienced surgeons and advanced techniques in this field in the country.

Eye Treatments: Turkey is also a preferred center for eye treatments such as laser eye surgery and cataract operations.

Orthopedic Surgery:Turkey has a strong reputation for orthopedic surgery in areas such as joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine.

Reproductive Treatments: There are advanced clinics on reproductive treatments and assisted reproductive technologies.

Dental Tourism: It attracts international patients in areas such as dental implants, veneers and cosmetic dentistry.

Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy: Various programs and therapies are offered in cities such as Antalya, Bodrum and Marmaris, especially for post-operative rehabilitation and sports injury treatment.

Obesity and Weight Loss Treatments: Turkey is also a preferred country for weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

Cancer Treatments: Leading oncology centers and multidisciplinary cancer clinics in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir provide comprehensive care for cancer treatment.

In addition to health services in these areas, affordable costs, high-quality health services and rich cultural heritage as well as natural beauties have a great impact on Turkey's increasing popularity in medical and health tourism.

Image 3: Cancer treatment is one of the leading reasons for health tourism in our country and in the world.

HEALTH TOURISM AND CANCER

The importance of health tourism in cancer treatment is related to many factors and an increasing interest is observed in this field. Health tourism offers cross-border access to quality healthcare for patients needing cancer treatment. The main drivers of this trend include the cost of treatment, accessibility, advanced therapies and personalized care.

While the cost of cancer treatment may be high in some countries, through medical tourism patients have the opportunity to receive high-quality treatment at affordable prices in countries with low healthcare costs. It is also possible for patients to access some cancer treatments in other countries that are not available in their home country or are subject to regulatory restrictions. Thanks to their continuous investment in research and development, many medical tourism centers provide patients with access to advanced cancer treatments that are not yet approved or available in their home countries. Medical tourism providers often focus on personalized care and attention, making the treatment process for cancer patients more comfortable and supportive.

Prominent cancer treatment centers include countries such as India, Mexico, Thailand, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, India, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom, Mexico and Brazil. These countries offer ideal patient care with their medical technologies, renowned healthcare facilities and expert physicians.

However, medical tourism comes with potential risks and rewards in decisions made for cancer treatments. Quality and safety concerns, travel-related risks, communication barriers, and legal and ethical considerations are some of the risks of these decisions. However, there are rewards such as access to advanced treatments, cost savings, personalized care and cultural enrichment.

To ensure a successful medical tourism experience for cancer treatments, patients are advised to conduct extensive research, verify credentials and accreditations of healthcare facilities and medical professionals, consult other patients' experiences, coordinate with healthcare providers in their home country, and plan travel and accommodation. ​. Cancer treatment in the field of health tourism in Turkey has made significant progress in recent years. The country has become a preferred center for cancer patients with its advanced medical infrastructure, modern treatment methods and affordable price advantages. Healthcare institutions in Turkey, especially leading hospitals located in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, offer cancer treatment at international standards.

CANCER TREATMENT IN TURKEY

Turkey's success in cancer treatment is supported by the use of modern medical technologies, experienced oncology specialists and multidisciplinary approaches. In addition to modern cancer treatment methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical oncology and targeted therapies, new and advanced treatment options such as immunotherapy and personalized treatment strategies are also offered in Turkey. These treatments provide patients with access to high-quality and innovative cancer treatment options that they may not be able to find in their home countries.

Türkiye offers various services to facilitate the treatment process of foreign patients. These include language support services, medical visa facilities, convenient accommodation options and treatment packages customized to the patient's needs. These services ensure that patients have a comfortable treatment process in Turkey and receive the necessary support in the post-treatment period.

These advantages of Turkey in the field of cancer treatment make the country an attractive option for patients seeking cancer treatment worldwide and contribute to the country's rise to leading positions in the field of health tourism. Especially Turkey's cultural diversity and historical riches, when combined with medical treatment, offer patients both a treatment and a cultural experience, which has a positive impact on the overall healing process.

Resources:

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/03/22/2632458/28124/en/Global-Medical-Tourism-Country-Profiles-Report-2023-Latest-Information-on-In-bound-Origin-Destinations-with-Facts-and-Figures-for-170-Countries.html

https://medicaltravelmarket.com/news/global-medical-tourism-outlook-in-2023

https://www.ushas.com.tr/en/health-tourism-data/

https://istanbeautiful.com/health-tourism-in-istanbul/

https://turktraveler.com/turkeys-most-successful-branches-for-health-tourism/

https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/what-are-the-best-countries-for-cancer-treatment

https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/exploring-cancer-treatment-options-in-the-medical-tourism-industry