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Sarah Balter
Sep 29, 2025
For two years, I've suffered severe repeated and miserable respiratory illness with little respect from doctors. I went to Acibadem, and was treated like a cash cow - 9000tl for what? Fancy crown molding and designer entryways? I could not afford their basic consultation! With each visit, the price had only gone up while the quality of service dropped like a rock - more crowded, shorter appointments, overwhelmed staff. I was only spot treated and sent on my way, without spirometry or allergy testing, without education on my condition or even an official diagnosis. What doctor asks their patient if they want an allergy test!? How should I know? The gouging from Acidbadem, American, and Liv hospitals has been a common concern among myself and my friends.
Even after I spent two nights at Acibadem because I could not breathe, my doc showed up for 20 seconds and left. She did not even speak to me. But my entire year of insurance coverage was blown.
I tried state care as well, which I will not knock. Its amazing for broken arms, burns, stitches, immediate injuries. But the spirometry testing procedure was faulty and I was totally misdiagnosed.
Turkiye Hastanesi, a private hospital, was like a breath of fresh air. My pulmonary/allergy doctor, Dr. Imran Ozdemir and the staff quickly and comfortably helped me identify that I have mild asthma, and that im allergic to all the grass and tree pollens. And the prices with insurance werent insulting or gouging, but very fair. Around 5000tl for a consult, testing and diagnosis, with MAPFRE insurance. 3600tl for an allergy test, a good price even though it was not covered. I know this is super expensive to Turks. But from my perspective as being from the US, access to healthcare like this for average Americans is literally unheard of and impossibly expensive. Tens of thousands of dollars. The campus is sprawling, green, and peaceful. It's cozy, and clean. And not at all pretentious. And I did not even have to ask for a woman translator. International guest services sent me Anna, immediately, and she was kind, professional, patient, and knowledgeable during both of my appointments. She even stepped in when another patient started randomly yelling at me. That woman seemed to think I had cut her in line, but I had shown her my number was next and she totally had a tantrum and started yelling and mocking me rudely with wildly inappropriate behavior. I spoke more than enough Turkish to set her straight, but Anna kept the situation calm and repeatedly informed the woman that hospital procedure was being followed, and redirected me to my appointment like a pro. And Hatice, who gave me my breath and allergy tests, has given me new faith and trust in medical services. Her dedication to a high standard of testing is a thing to behold. Im not exaggerating. After being misdiagnosed and neglected at other hospitals, it was her precision during our first breath test that led to an accurate diagnosis - only mild asthma, that can become risky when i have a virus or infection. And her allergy testing that sussed out that I'm allergic to tree and grass pollens. Finally an answer to my yearly miseries! Dr. Imran calmed my fears, prescribed me properly, and gave me actual guidance for lifestyle changes.
And all were so kind and caring.
This condition was seriously wrecking my quality of life. Thanks to Turkiye Hastanesi, I can get it back on track, and I have somewhere to go and a reliable doctor, if and when things get scary and i'm breathless again. That means a LOT. Will recommend to all my foreign colleagues.
