“We have recently been working on different projects in Bulgaria and Romania; both are European Union member states,” Bozkurt said, stressing that the free movement of doctors and nurses within the EU will help Medicana run its investments and operations more smoothly in these countries. “More importantly the free movement of patients through visa-free travel within EU territory will provide a steady flow of clients to our hospitals,” he added.

Medicana, along with other private health providers in Turkey, wants to grab a share of the world’s $100 billon health tourism industry by expanding to countries in Turkey’s immediate neighborhood. “We have great expertise and know-how in addition to a well-qualified staff of doctors and nurses in the health industry. … We could easily secure a $7 billion to $8 billion share of this huge industry,” Bozkurt said. Currently, Turkey earns an estimated $500 million from the health tourism industry.

Medicana is eyeing a share in the world’s $100 billion health tourism industry by expanding to countries in Turkey’s immediate neighborhood.

The way Medicana operates in other countries focuses mostly on the transfer of technology and expertise rather than direct investment. “We have acquired great technical skill in running hospitals, from designing the building to equipping them with state-of-the-art medical technology, from managing hospital staff to providing hospitality services to patient’s relatives. Hence, we are trying to cash in on this know-how rather than assuming direct financial responsibility for new investments in these countries,” Bozkurt explained.

The group is also looking into potential opportunities in Libya, Egypt, Syria and Albania. Executives are talking to both private providers as well as public health managers to custom-tailor programs, including turn-key projects for setting up hospitals.

Internationally accredited

“We were approached by investors as well as hospital operators in these countries, asking for better management of the existing infrastructure and refurbishing hospitals,” he said. Medicana has already secured Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, which shows that the group ensures that health care and surgery will be performed to the highest possible standards. JCI is an extension of America’s Joint Commission, which sets quality health care standards for US hospitals and provides information for those who seek health care and surgery abroad.

Medicana also secured contracts with health providers in other countries in which simple operations are conducted in domestic hospitals while high-risk surgery is referred to Medicana branches in either İstanbul or Ankara. Some of Medicana’s doctors and staff often travel to these countries to perform surgery at hospitals there.

The group has recently started to receive patients from Iraq. Most cases are young children with heart problems. “We have had successful results in treating these patients who in most cases recovered from heart anomalies,” Bozkurt said. “The Iraqi Health Ministry, after careful screening, chose Medicana to refer serious cases in Iraq to for better treatment,” he added. “We can compete with European rivals easily,” Bozkurt claimed. “The group employs the latest available technology in medical science and hires the best doctors and technicians in the country.”

Competitive pricing

Cost-wise, Medicana offers very competitive rates for high-risk surgeries. For most surgeries, the cost is one-tenth what is charged in the US or EU countries. “The charge for a bypass operation is 10 times lower than the US price,” Bozkurt said. For some surgeries, the cost is a third of European prices. For example, laser surgery on both eyes costs 3,000-5,000 euros in Europe, whereas it costs 1,500 euros in Turkey, including flights and a three-night hotel accommodation.

“We do not compromise on quality, however, while charging less,” he emphasized. The group provides health and wellness services for heart surgery, advanced cancer treatment, cosmetic surgery, a fertility clinic, brain surgery and organ transplantation in its hospitals. Medicana’s surgery success record is well above the world average.

To expand its health network, Medicana plans to establish a medical school and a nursing school. There is currently a shortage of nurses and doctors not only in Turkey but throughout the world, Bozkurt said, adding that they are in the process of establishing a foundation as a preliminary step to setting up a medical school in the near future.

The group established the Medicana Ankara International branch last year to cater especially to foreign diplomats and professionals working there. The hospital offers everything from family medical services to comprehensive surgery in one building. All doctors speak English, and the staff is specially trained to respond to the needs of foreign visitors. The hospital has reached 80 percent of its operation capacity within its first year. With seven state-of-the-art hospitals in İstanbul and Ankara and more planned in other cities, the group is expanding both in the domestic market and abroad.