New Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health: Key Changes and Expectations for 2025

Turkey has emerged as a major hub for international health tourism in recent years. The growing demand highlighted the need for a more robust regulatory framework. In response, the Ministry of Health published the "Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health" in the Official Gazette on April 26, 2025. The regulation took immediate effect and introduces significant reforms to the sector.

In this article, we will explore the main changes introduced by the regulation, its potential impact on the health tourism industry, and critical points to ensure compliance.

Mandatory Integration with the HealthTürkiye Portal

The regulation mandates that all healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations involved in health tourism must integrate with the HealthTürkiye portal.

Key requirements include:

• All services offered under health tourism must be registered through the portal.

• Patients will be able to view the services they receive via the portal.

• Transparency and monitoring of services will be significantly enhanced.

This move is expected to increase patient safety and standardize service quality across the sector.

Compulsory Complication Insurance

A major highlight of the new regulation is the requirement for complication insurance for all surgical procedures performed in an operating room setting under health tourism.

Accordingly:

• Healthcare facilities must provide complication insurance for surgical services offered to international patients.

• The insurance will protect both the patients and healthcare providers against potential medical complications.

This measure is crucial for enhancing patient trust and minimizing post-treatment risks.

Expanded Role of USHAŞ

The International Health Services Inc. (USHAŞ) is assigned a broader role under the new regulation.

Its responsibilities include:

• Supporting healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations on international platforms,

• Issuing authorization certificates to intermediary organizations,

• Monitoring and ensuring the quality of services provided.

This restructuring further strengthens Turkey’s efforts to position itself as a leading brand in international health tourism.

Appointment of Responsible Personnel for Each Patient

To improve service tracking and patient satisfaction:

• Healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations must assign a responsible personnel for each international patient.

• The assigned personnel will monitor the entire service process for the patient.

This requirement is designed to ensure high standards in patient care and service delivery.

Expansion of Remote Healthcare Services

Healthcare facilities are now permitted to offer remote healthcare services, provided they announce these services through the HealthTürkiye portal.

Benefits include:

• Reaching out to international patients in a secure and regulated manner,

• Enhancing the accessibility of Turkish healthcare services worldwide.

The integration of digital health solutions is set to play an increasingly important role in the sector.

Accreditation and Certification Requirements

Another critical change is the requirement for healthcare facilities to obtain internationally recognized accreditations and certifications issued by the Turkish Healthcare Quality and Accreditation Institute (TÜSKA).

Important points:

• Healthcare facilities must complete the accreditation process within the stipulated timeline.

• The International Health Tourism Authorization Certificate will remain valid only if the HealthTürkiye Performance Criteria are continuously met.

• Authorization certificates cannot be transferred to another institution.

This initiative aims to strengthen Turkey's competitiveness and credibility in the global healthcare market.

Patient Complaints and Satisfaction Surveys

The regulation places a strong emphasis on continuous service improvement through:

• Monitoring patient complaint rates and conducting regular satisfaction surveys,

• Using the results for evaluating and renewing authorization certificates.

This approach will help maintain a consistent quality of healthcare services offered to international patients.

Foreign Language Service Requirements

To further enhance the patient experience, healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations are now required to offer foreign language services.

Specific obligations include:

• At least one staff member in the international health tourism unit must be fluent in a foreign language and must provide official proof of language proficiency.

• Intermediary organizations must operate a 24/7 call center offering services in at least two foreign languages.

• All facilities and organizations must have a multilingual website.

These measures will facilitate better communication and service quality for international patients.

Compliance Timeline and Transition Period

The regulation provides a clear timeline for compliance:

• Healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations must comply with the new rules within six months.

• Complication insurance must be in place by December 31, 2025.

• Accreditation and certification requirements must be fulfilled by December 31, 2026.

This structured transition period will help the sector adapt to the new standards smoothly.

Conclusion: A New Era for Health Tourism in Turkey

The "Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health" marks a major step toward elevating Turkey’s global standing in health tourism. It seeks to enhance service quality, ensure patient safety, and increase transparency.

Although there will be short-term adjustment challenges, the regulation is expected to boost Turkey’s competitiveness and further increase international demand for healthcare services in the long run.

Healthcare facilities and intermediary organizations must carefully manage their compliance processes to stay competitive and contribute to Turkey's vision of becoming a leading global destination for health tourism.

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