Coverage
Due to major health reforms in the 2000s and 2010s, universal health insurance coverage for the population was achieved, and the general quality of health services improved greatly, with patient satisfaction rising from 39.5% in 2003 to 75.9% in 2011. The following medical treatments are covered by the SGK: * Emergencies * Work accidents and vocational illnesses * Infectious diseases * Preventive health services (substance use) * Childbirth * Extraordinary events (injuries from war and natural disasters) * Fertility treatment for women younger than 39 * Cosmetic surgery deemed medically necessary While some SGK-contracted hospitals offer dental care, in most cases, patients must rely on private dental services and are responsible for covering the costs. In addition, patients must partially cover the cost of some prescription drugs and outpatient services.Statistics
Medication
As measured in defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day Turkey had a high rate of consumption of antibiotics in 2015 with a rate of 38.8, double that of the United Kingdom.Medical tourism
There is a substantial medical tourism business in Turkey, with almost 178 thousand tourists visiting for health purposes in the first six months of 2018. 67% used private hospital, 24% public hospitals and 9% university hospitals. The Regulation on International Health Tourism and Tourist Health came into force on July 13, 2017. It only applies to those coming specifically for treatment.Private healthcare
There is also a large private healthcare sector. Private health services often offer shorter waiting lists and higher quality services. Most banks and insurance companies offer health plans, and contract with certain hospitals and doctors. The Turkish healthcare system used to be dominated by a centralized state system run by the Ministry of Health. In 2003 the governing Justice and Development Party introduced a sweeping health reform program aimed at increasing the ratio of private to state health provision and making healthcare available to a larger share of the population. Information from the Turkish Statistical Institute states that 76.3 billion liras are being spent on healthcare annually, with 79.6% of funding coming from the Social Security Institute and most of the remainder (15.4%) coming from out-of-pocket payments. There are 27.954 medical institutions, 1.7 doctor for every 1000 people and 2.54 beds for 1000 people. Turkey had a scheme called green card (Yeşil Kart), which was developed in order to help low-income social group to get medical help. Spending on this system were equal to 40 billion TL in 2010. Due to this fact, the system was reformed in 2011 and the number of people who could benefit from this system was reduced. Following the 2012 Universal Health Insurance Law, the Green Card system was abolished.Finance
Turkey had the lowest expenditure on healthcare in Europe in 2015 - 6.4% ofSee also
* Health in Turkey *References
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