A major factor that can impact your decision to have a hair transplant is the cost. It is largely affected by the operation theatre cost. It’s an essential part of the surgery that a proper place exists to perform it. Since Turkey aims to join the European Union, the country has taken vast measures to improve its healthcare sector. Developments are made in both public and private.
Despite having advanced, accredited medical facilities, experienced doctors, and state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, the cost for procedures remains low, including that of its operation theatre cost. This is also what makes the hair transplant cost so much lower in Turkey compared to the UK, where one hair transplant may cost up to £10,000.
The assurances for the safety of procedures performed here are many. Lower cost in no way entails poor quality. Turkey is among the top destinations of choice for cosmetic surgeries, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In the first half of 2018 alone, 178,000 people came to Turkey for health purposes according to the Turkish Ministry of Health while the Turkish Healthcare Travel Council reported 765,000 medical tourists to the country in 2017. Turkey is undoubtedly a hot spot for those looking to get cheaper hair transplant costs. Here are a few reasons why:
IFC and World Bank Support
Both the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank are helping Turkey improve and transform its medical sector. Two initiatives have helped optimize the process:
- Health Transformation Program (2003)
- Health Public-Private Partnership Program (2010)
The former has helped enhance healthcare access, health coverage, health outcomes, and financial protection while the latter involves plans for the construction of 50 hospitals at the cost of around £20 billion. Out of the 50 hospitals, 4 are currently in operation, and many other projects are underway. One of the hospitals, The City Hospital of Adana even has seismic isolators built in it so that in case of an earthquake, greater protection is offered to everyone inside the building.
JCI Accreditation
Following the United States is Turkey in getting the most JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited hospitals. This is due to the government’s vigorous efforts to ensure that all the new hospitals are being developed with the best technical and medical infrastructure. They also make sure each patient is handled by no less than an expert professional.
Within Turkey, Istanbul has the highest JCI-accredited medical facilities. It’s JCI’s purpose to “improve patient safety and quality of health care in the international community”. Thus it ensures that other than low hair transplant cost in Turkey, you will also be getting the best care possible.
Turkish Exchange Rate
Another reason that contributes to the low operation theatre cost in Turkey is its economy. One Turkish Lira equals 0.14 pounds sterling, which means that you’d be paying much less. As long as the currency is in dollars, euros, or pounds everything in Turkey, in general, is much more affordable.
This has contributed to the medical tourism boom in the country. You would be mistaken to think that Turkey is cheap because the facilities and the expertise of doctors available there are poorer compared to the rest of the world. It is not so, which is why hundreds of thousands of people travel to the country every year. Other than the procedural costs, people even enjoy accommodation and transportation services that are made a part of the hair transplant package by many clinics. Even if that hasn’t been the case, the average booking costs of good hotels are also cheap.
Turkey’s Geographical Location
Turkey receives many medical tourists from countries such as Russia, England, Germany, Netherlands, and Ukraine along with many other European, Gulf, and Middle Eastern countries. A factor that contributes greatly to the incoming of medical tourists is that Turkey straddles both Asia and Europe. A four-hour flight from the city of Istanbul can reach 50 countries. This makes it quite easy, accessible, and cost-efficient for many people to reach Turkey.
This indirectly results in the overall lower hair transplant cost in Turkey. Further, the favorable climate and cultural attractions in Turkey make the whole venture quite profitable.
Conclusion
The Turkish government has been working to make sure that everyone receives a high standard of treatment, be it citizens or medical tourists (such as Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health). Artificial Intelligence-based investments are also being made within the country, with the recent example of the addition of health nutrition advice to the e-Pulse Personal Health System, which helps citizens keep a tab on their health data. Free healthcare and general health insurance for all are also provided to the citizens.
Although the medical sector in Turkey continues to achieve greater quality, the prices remain affordable for all.
