The health sector in Turkey is well-established compared to many other countries in the world. All hospitals have emergency services available and they are open 24 hours a day.

Foreign students studying in Turkish universities have to have a health insurance. There are different insurance service providers where the students can buy an approppriate insurance from. Normally, there are medical centers at university campuses but usually they direct students to hospitals for major health problems. If students do not have a medical insurance plan, they will face a high amount of bill at the end of the treatment.

International students can come to Turkey with their own health insurance plan valid in their home countries. However, theya re strongly advised to check with their insurance company to verify whether the policy is valid in Turkey or not. The students can also ask the International Relations Office of their university in Turkey to learn about the validity of their insurance plan. Some of the international insurance companies are as follows:

•  AXA PPP Healthcare : www.axappphealthcare.co.uk
•  BUPA : www.bupa-intl.com
•  ExpaCare Insurance Services : www.expacare.net

All intenational students will be registered at the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK) through the centralized system however they still need to get a mandatory health insurance policy. In some universities, the Inıternational Relations Office staff guide the studetns to get the proper insurance policy. So, you should talk to the staff there before purchasing a policy.

If you have a medical insurance, you will pay around 20% of the total amount prescribed by doctor. You can go to private or state hospitals with your insurance.

Below are the main insurance companies that have branches in all the big towns.