With a population of 85.4 million, Türkiye represents one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving healthcare markets in its region. Although the fertility rate has declined to 1.5%, the population continues to grow, with 21% under the age of 14 and 10% over 65. Life expectancy now stands at 77 years. 

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is both the main policy-making body and the largest healthcare service provider. Healthcare spending in 2023 reached $42.2 billion—a 30% increase in year-over-year. Of this, 77.5% was funded by the public sector, largely due to Türkiye’s universal health insurance system, which covers approximately 95% of the population. Healthcare expenditure accounts for 4.7% of GDP, below the OECD average. While relatively low, this gap highlights significant opportunities for future investment and growth, particularly as demand for more advanced services continues to rise.

Türkiye has 1,566 hospitals: 60% are public hospitals providing health care free of charge for universal health insurance holders, 36% are private hospitals, and the remaining facilities are university hospitals. Collectively, these hospitals provide 267,000 beds, with 63% located in public hospitals, 21% in private facilities, and the remainder in universities. 50 to 60 private hospitals are JCI-accredited hospitals. In 2023, more than 13.4 million patients were hospitalized. The system also includes 49,000 ICU beds (half in public hospitals) and 1,560 fully equipped operating rooms. As in many developed markets, the leading causes of mortality are cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory illness, while chronic conditions such as COPD, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes pose long-term challenges for the healthcare system.

Dental and laboratory services are similarly robust, with 39,000 dental units across independent clinics and dental hospitals. While not all public hospitals operate in-house medical laboratories for IVD tests, large hospitals do, and smaller ones send samples to regional labs. The private sector is particularly active in laboratory services, with 1,050 private labs nationwide—140 of which also provide pathology services.

Healthcare services in Türkiye are widespread, with advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities accessible across the country. As of the end of 2023, facilities included:

•    19,300 dialysis units in 938 centers
•    1,001 MRI scanners
•    1,359 CT scanners
•    5,750 ultrasound machines
•    8,053 Doppler machines
•    3,127 ECG systems
•    960 mammography units
•    169 PET scanners
•    270 gamma cameras
•    269 radiotherapy systems

The country also performed 14,315 organ and tissue transplant surgeries in 2023, underscoring its advanced clinical capabilities in specialized care.

Türkiye has emerged as a regional hub in medical tourism, attracting patients from around the world for advanced care in cardiology, organ transplants, oncology, cosmetic surgery, dental procedures, and fertility treatments. In 2023, the country welcomed 1.5 million international patients.

Leading Sub-sectors 

Medical Devices 

As of the end of 2024, the Turkish medical market is estimated at $3.3 billion. 75% of the market, around $2.5 billion, is composed of imported devices. According to the Türkiye’s 12th Development Plan 2024–2028, the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors are among the sectors local manufacturing is incentivized. As a result, Türkiye’s medical device exports are increasing and has reached $1.25 billion. Besides medical device companies that manufacture more traditional devices and consumables, healthcare ecosystem is growing rapidly. There are innovation hubs like ITU ARI Teknokent and Erciyes Teknopark that provide ecosystems for pilots, co-development, and research partnerships. There are R&D centers specializing in molecular biology and genomics. There are start-ups that work on improving accuracy of radiological readings using AI working on developing products in genomics, regenerative medicine, robotics, and AI offer fertile ground for collaboration and tech-transfer. A 2024 report by StartupCentrum highlights that 126 biotechnology and healthcare startups received funding in that year.

Medical devices in Türkiye must be registered in the national Product Tracking System (Ürün Takip Sistemi – UTS), which is administered by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK). To complete registration, manufacturers or their local authorized representatives typically need to provide the CE Mark certificate, ISO 13485 quality system certification, a technical file, and a declaration of conformity. 

Since Türkiye has harmonized its medical device regulations with the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR 2017/746), U.S. firms with devices already CE-marked under EU law generally face a streamlined path to registration.

Reimbursement in Türkiye is managed centrally by the Social Security Institution (SGK), which administers the country’s universal health insurance covering approximately 95% of the population. After market authorization, companies must apply to SGK for their product to be listed on the national reimbursement schedule. SGK typically negotiates discounts or cost-containment agreements, especially for higher-cost technologies. Products not included on the SGK reimbursement list can still be marketed but are mainly limited to private insurance or out-of-pocket segment.

Public hospitals in Türkiye procure medical devices and consumables primarily through competitive public tenders where suppliers bid. This ensures price control and fairness but limits flexibility for hospitals. For certain standard devices and consumables, hospitals can purchase directly via the State Supply Office (DMO), which acts as a centralized procurement agency. For exceptional cases like in emergencies or urgent needs, hospitals may make direct procurements within very strict limits, but these exceptions are rare and tightly audited.

Private hospitals in Türkiye enjoy procurement flexibility, purchasing medical devices directly from distributors or manufacturers through negotiated contracts. While not bound by public tender rules, some large groups use their own RFQs to secure competitive pricing. This flexibility also allows private hospitals to adopt innovative technologies faster than public institutions, making them a strategic entry point for foreign medical device companies.

Pharmaceuticals 

According to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Türkiye (IEIS) Türkiye’s pharmaceutical market reached US$11 billion in 2024, with about 2.6 billion units sold across retail and hospital channels. Türkiye ranks roughly 19th globally by pharma market size in USD terms. Türkiye’s imports total to US$5.43 billion with exports at US$2.3 billion, but the export base is steadily growing. The country has a strong local manufacturing landscape: as of July 2024, the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TITCK) had approved 99 pharmaceutical production facilities, in addition to 10 radiopharmaceutical, 13 API/raw-material, 3 herbal, and 4 FSMP facilities. 

Locally manufactured medicines dominate by volume (88% of units sold in 2023) but account for a smaller share of value (57% of domestic sales), reflecting the continued reliance on imported high-value drugs such as biologics and specialty therapies.

In Türkiye, the distribution and sale of pharmaceuticals are tightly regulated and there are some important differences compared to the U.S. Pharmaceuticals are sold mainly through about 28,000 independent pharmacies, each owned by a licensed pharmacist since retail chains are not allowed. Hospitals also operate in-house pharmacies that serve only their own inpatients. Online sales of prescription medicines are prohibited, though some over-the-counter products, cosmetics, and supplements can be sold via e-commerce.

Marketing authorization is overseen by TITCK. Applications are accepted electronically four times a year unless granted priority review by the Priority Evaluation Board.  Once granted, a marketing authorization is valid for five years, with renewal applications required nine months prior to expiry.

Reimbursement is centralized under SGK. After marketing authorization, products seek listing on the Health Implementation Communiqué (SUT) reimbursement lists. Türkiye uses reference pricing against a basket of EU countries and applies a fixed Euro conversion value (periodically adjusted) when translating EU prices into TRY for reimbursement/price caps. Alternative reimbursement agreements (e.g., discounts, price-volume, portfolio/value-based deals) have been in place since 2016 for high-budget-impact/innovative therapies. For medicines that are not authorized or commercially available, TITCK enables access to these medicines, especially for innovative, orphan, oncology, and rare-disease treatments. Physicians can apply for patient-specific approval, with imports typically handled by the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association (TEB) or the Social Security Institution (SGK), and reimbursement considered case by case depending on medical justification and budget impact. For pharmaceutical companies, the NPP serves as a valuable early-access pathway, often used as a bridge strategy to build clinical demand and real-world experience before formal authorization or reimbursement.

Health IT & Digital Health

Türkiye has built one of the most advanced public digital health infrastructures in its region, anchored by nationwide systems for electronic health records, appointments, prescribing, and imaging. The Ministry of Health’s flagship platform, e-Nabız (e-Pulse), functions as a national personal health record that integrates laboratory results, imaging, medications, and encounter data, while allowing patients to control which clinicians can access their information. Since its launch in 2015, it has expanded rapidly and now covers more than 80% of the population, with millions of active users accessing the platform through web and mobile interfaces. In parallel, the Centralized Appointment System (MHRS/CDAS) enables patients to book appointments across all public hospitals, dental centers, and family physicians via website, mobile app, or hotline. The system has been enhanced with tools like the symptom checker and a new “approved appointment” workflow designed to reduce no-shows and reallocate cancellations efficiently.

Prescription and imaging services have also been digitized nationwide. The e-Prescription system is fully integrated into daily practice and processes millions of prescriptions each day, streamlining workflows for doctors, pharmacists, and patients alike. The National Teleradiology System (TELETIP) connects hundreds of hospitals across the country, enabling real-time image sharing, remote consultations, and workload balancing between facilities. On top of this digital backbone, clinical decision support systems are being introduced to strengthen the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illnesses, providing risk scores and treatment prompts at the point of care.

Turkish health IT companies have developed a strong reputation by delivering these large-scale, enterprise systems for the Ministry of Health. They bring proven expertise in building high-volume platforms, integrating heterogeneous hospital information systems, and ensuring interoperability with international standards like HL7 and FHIR. Their agility in responding to frequent regulatory updates has given them a competitive edge in customizing solutions quickly and cost-effectively. In imaging informatics, domestic vendors have successfully developed PACS/VNA connectivity and tele-reading solutions aligned with national practice standards. 

There is demand for advanced analytics and decision-support layers built on top of e-Nabız and MHRS data, for artificial intelligence tools that can enhance triage and image interpretation within the national teleradiology system, and for digital solutions that improve patient experience in areas such as appointment adherence and medication safety. 
Starting in 2022, the Ministry of Health introduced a formal Regulation on Remote Provision of Healthcare Services, establishing the legal groundwork for telemedicine and remote monitoring systems. Authorized healthcare providers—public or private—can now use MoH-registered “remote healthcare information system infrastructures” for services like home monitoring of vital signs (blood pressure, blood sugar), teleconsultations, and care for the elderly, among other applications. Pilot implementations emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, some hospitals developed web-based telemedicine frameworks to capture real-time health indicators, enabling clinicians to monitor patients safely without physical visits. However, SGK does not reimburse remote health services which limits the market expansion of remote monitoring tools. 

Biotechnology & Genomics 

Türkiye’s biotechnology landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, fueled by strong public investment, an expanding base of genetic laboratories operating next-generation sequencing (NGS), and a growing cancer and rare disease burden that create urgent demand for advanced diagnostics and therapies. 

The Health Institutes of Türkiye (TUSEB) is central to Türkiye’s biotech ecosystem, running institutes such as Cancer, Vaccines, Biotechnology, Health Data & AI, and Public Health. It funds and conducts R&D, supports startups, and anchors innovation across academic and commercial spheres. TUSEB launched its cornerstone initiative—the Türkiye National Genome & Bioinformatics Project to uncover the genetic causes of diseases, develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and establish a foundation for personalized medicine in Türkiye. The project is carried out through the Türkiye National Genome Center (TUGEM), located at the Aziz Sancar Research Center (ASAM), a high-capacity research facility equipped with state-of-the-art sequencing and bioinformatics infrastructure. ASAM hosts a comprehensive biobank storing blood, plasma, serum, saliva, urine, stool, and tissue samples, along with extracted DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites. Samples are preserved under strict quality protocols using nitrogen tanks, controlled freezers, and validated transfer systems. 

The project focuses on high-throughput sequencing and analyzing the whole genome and transcriptome of both patient groups and healthy volunteers. Priority disease areas include rare genetic disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases. By mapping genetic variants specific to the Turkish population and determining their frequencies, the project aims to create a national reference database for precision medicine applications. Future phases will expand into multi-omics profiling, including proteomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics, to generate integrated disease signatures. As of now, more than 500 whole genomes have been sequenced, producing millions of genetic variants catalogued. Sequencing continues, with analyses contributing to population genetics, disease susceptibility mapping, and biomarker, novel drug and vaccine discovery.

On the clinical side, Türkiye boasts over 100 genetic diagnostic laboratories across public hospitals and private centers whose key services include cytogenetics, single-gene assays, and increasingly, NGS-based panels for prenatal screening, hereditary conditions and oncology. Precision medicine is increasingly embedded in clinical workflows, with KRAS/NRAS mutational tests and multi-gene oncology panels reimbursed by SGK, supporting targeted treatments and therapeutic stratification. 

There are currently no approved CAR-T therapies on the market. A major leap forward occurred in March 2024, when Koç Healthcare, one of Türkiye’s foremost healthcare networks, announced a strategic partnership with Caring Cross, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on expanding access to ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products). Under the agreement, Koç will serve as the license holder and lead clinical commercialization of Caring Cross’s CAR-T therapies in the Turkish market, leveraging its new state-of-the-art ATMP manufacturing facilities. TUSEB has elevated CAR-T therapy to a national innovation priority, signaling strong policy backing.

A high prevalence of rare diseases—estimated at seven million individuals, driven in part by consanguinity—has spurred demand for advanced genetic diagnostics. Some of the most common genetic illnesses seen in Türkiye are Phenylketonuria (PKU), Biotinidase Deficiency and 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency, Sickle Cell Anemia, Alpha Thalassemia, and Beta Thalassemia, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Fragile X Syndrome, and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)
On the R&D side, there are multiple engaged centers, like TUBITAK – MAM Biotech, Istanbul Technical University – Molecular Biology, Biotechnology & Genetics Research Center (MOBGAM), Bogaziçi University – Life Sciences & Technologies Center (LifeSci), Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Erciyes University Vaccine Institute,  and Gebze Institute of Technology offering R&D collaboration, and access to advanced labs.
Under the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Türkiye (IEIS), the Turkish Biopharmaceuticals & Vaccines Platform, there are 24 biopharma companies mostly working on developing biosimilars. 

Opportunities 

• Innovative medical devices and consumables
• Advanced imaging and oncology equipment (PET, radiotherapy, robotic surgery tools).
• Genomics and molecular diagnostics (NGS platforms, reagents, bioinformatics tools).
• Biobank and lab infrastructure.
• AI-based radiology, pathology and telehealth solutions for integration with national systems.
• Biologics, specialty drugs, and orphan medicines for oncology and rare diseases.
• Dental products 

Resources

• Turkish Ministry of Health: https://www.saglik.gov.tr/
• TUSEB (Health Institutes of Türkiye): https://www.tuseb.gov.tr/en
• TITCK (Medicines and Medical Devices Institute of Türkiye): https://www.titck.gov.tr/
• AMCham (American Chamber of Commerce in Türkiye)
• Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AIFD)
• Association of Research Based Medical Technologies Manufacturers (ARTED)
   

For further information on the healthcare sector, contact:

Ebru Olcay
Senior Commercial Specialist, Healthcare 
U.S. Commercial Service
U.S. Embassy, Istanbul, Türkiye
Ebru.Olcay@trade.gov