The Foreign Office is aware of six British nationals having died in Turkey in 2024 following medical procedures
Turkey is a popular tourist destination(Image: Getty Images)
There’s growing concern over the rise of people seeking overseas treatments such as hair implants and dental work. This is known as ‘medical tourism’, it is when people travel to have medical, surgical or dental treatment abroad.
Turkey is a popular option for people when it comes to choosing a location to have treatment and procedures done. People travel to the country for cosmetic surgery due to lower costs, a wide range of available procedures, and the combination of a holiday with treatment.
The Foreign Office has previously issued a warning about medical tourism in Turkey. The information shared by the travel agency via Gov.uk, says: “The standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally and also within countries.”
The travel body is aware of six British nationals having died in Turkey in 2024 following medical procedures. Some British nationals have also experienced complications and needed further treatment or surgery following their procedure.
For anyone considering travelling to Turkey for medical, surgical or dental treatment, the Foreign Office has suggested you should discuss plans with your doctor in the UK, dentist or clinician before going ahead.
You should also do your own research as private companies have a “financial interest” in booking your treatment and their literature should not be your only source of information.
If you travel abroad for medical treatment or planned surgery (sometimes called medical tourism), you should be aware of the potential risks. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot usually help if you have travelled abroad for medical treatment, for example if you have issues with the care received or costs involved.
When looking into travelling for medical treatment you should be cautious of websites selling cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday and check how you will get home if there is an emergency, and how much it will cost.
Other considerations include to be aware that healthcare after your treatment may be limited in the country you are travelling to. You should also check whether your insurance covers you, and be aware that it may not be valid for some costs (for example if there are complications after the surgery).
Advice issued by the NHS says: “No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, it’s the surgeon’s responsibility to provide follow-up treatment.
“Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can go to if you have any problems.”
It can be difficult to find out if a surgeon is fully trained in the procedure you want. You should ask the surgeon:
- what training and qualifications they have
- what organisations they belong to
- how long they have been practising
- how many procedures like the one you’re having they have done
- if they speak a language you understand – they need to be able to explain the procedure to you and understand your concerns or questions
The government is partnering with TikTok influencers to warn people about the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures. Medical content creators will urge viewers to talk to a UK doctor first, take out specialist travel insurance and avoid package holidays that include procedures.
The move is part of a wider government campaign to curb so-called medical tourism, as well as tighten regulations for cosmetic practitioners in England.
The Turkish Ministry of Health provides a list of its approved medical providers on the HealthTurkiye website.