Ankara to launch 'free health zones'

Turkey will establish "free health zones" to attract patients from overseas, Health Minister Recep Akdag said yesterday at the fifth International Health Tourism Congress in Ankara.  "With the free health zones, we will make  more attractive as a country offering high-quality and affordable health services," the minister said at his speech there. "Turkey is among the most popular countries in the world in health tourism. Prior to the Transformation Program in Health implemented 10 years ago, patients used to go to the United States or Europe for treatment. Now Turkey is one of the top 10 favorite destinations for health tourism, and it continues to go up in world rankings." "Around 200,000 people get medical treatment in Turkey per year. Political and economic stability have made Turkey an attraction center," Akdag said. "Health services are offered in Turkey at high levels. Many medical treatment procedures in Turkey are done better and are more affordable than in other countries." Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ertugrul Hasipoglu said they wanted to succeed in health tourism. "To date, we have been able to accomplish many of our dreams. Our only dream now is to get recognition from the whole world."