Ventricular septal defect treatment cost in Turkey typically ranges from $12,000 to $25,000 for surgical closure. Essential diagnostics like a heart ultrasound run from $100 to $100, while open heart surgery costs between $8,000 and $17,100. Total expenses depend on defect complexity, patient age, and the required ICU stay. Patients often save 40-60% compared to the US. Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir are the primary medical hubs.
Typical Ventricular Septal Defect Treatment Costs in Turkey
Bookimed Expert Insight: Pediatric cases requiring high-volume surgical expertise are best handled at JCI-accredited centers like Medical Park Bahcelievler. Professor Emin Tireli there performs over 100 neonatal cardiac surgeries annually. For complex reconstructions, Memorial Şişli Hospital offers advanced intensive care units and a 90% success rate in organ transplants. Patients seeking American-standard protocols benefit from Anadolu Medical Center, a Johns Hopkins Hospital affiliate ranked globally by MTQUA.
| Turkey | Austria | Spain | |
| Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery | from $12,000 | from $40,000 | from $30,000 |
| Open heart surgery | from $8,000 | from $70,000 | from $30,000 |
| Interventricular septal defect surgery | from $18,000 | from $60,000 | from $35,000 |
Dr. Ali Gozukucuk specializes in pediatric surgery with a focus on congenital conditions like ventricular septal defects. Trained at Erciyes University, he brings deep expertise to complex cases.
Prof. Emin Tireli specializes in complex pediatric heart defects, performing innovative techniques at Medical Park Bahcelievler Hospital.
Prof. Mert Yilmaz specializes in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and pediatric cardiac surgery at Kadıköy Florence Nightingale Hospital.
Top ventricular septal defect surgeons in Turkey include Prof. Dr. Sertaç Çiçek at Liv Hospital and Prof. Dr. Emin Tireli. They specialize in congenital heart surgery. Many hold fellowships from the Mayo Clinic. Others lead departments at JCI-accredited centers like Medical Park and Anadolu Medical Center.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many leading Turkish surgeons hold founding roles in global pediatric heart societies. For example, Prof. Dr. Sertaç Çiçek helps lead the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. These international ties mean your child receives treatment based on the latest global research.
Patient Consensus: Parents often mention how surgeons explained the heart defect using clear diagrams. They felt comforted by the detailed maps of the upcoming repair. Families also noticed that the medical teams treated their children with great kindness during recovery.
Turkish specialists achieve survival rates reaching 98.8% for ventricular septal defect (VSD) repairs. Doctors specializing in congenital heart surgery maintain success rates of 95% to 98% for standard closures. These experts are certified by the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS).
Bookimed Expert Insight: Success in Turkey is driven by doctors with immense surgical experience. Some specialists have performed 6,000+ congenital heart surgeries. This volume allows them to handle complex neonatal cases that smaller centers may refer elsewhere. Centers like Anadolu Medical Center maintain affiliations with top US hospitals to share surgical protocols.
Patient Consensus: Parents noticed the speed of recovery, with many children returning home in five days. They felt comforted by surgeons who explained heart anatomy using clear diagrams and simple words.
Turkish cardiologists close a ventricular septal defect (VSD) using catheterization instead of open-heart surgery. Specialists like Dr. Hakan Ozkan at Acibadem Hospitals use a thin tube to insert an occluder device. This device seals the heart hole without a large chest incision or a heart-lung machine.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Top Turkish specialists often hold affiliations with US centers like Johns Hopkins. This connection ensures they use the same international safety protocols for pediatric heart procedures. Patients at Anadolu Medical Center benefit from this standardized care at a lower total cost.
Patient Consensus: Parents were relieved to see their children walking just one day after the procedure. They often mentioned how the lack of a visible scar made the recovery feel easier. One mother noted that the medical team explained the device clearly, which reduced her anxiety.
Choose a pediatric heart surgeon in Turkey with board certification and international fellowship training. Focus on specialists who perform ventricular septal defect (VSD) closures in JCI-accredited hospitals. These experts often use minimally invasive techniques to ensure faster recovery for your child.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish specialists often hold dual roles as professors at major university hospitals. This means they combine active surgical practice with clinical research on heart outcomes. For example, Dr. Sertac Cicek at Liv Hospital Vadistanbul and Dr. Hasim Ustunsoy at Anadolu Medical Center bring academic rigor to their surgical work.
Patient Consensus: Parents often mention feeling relieved when surgeons explain the choice between surgical and transcatheter closure in detail. They also notice that having a dedicated pediatric ICU team nearby makes the recovery period feel much safer.
Healthcare is the key development sector of the Turkish government. The Turkish authorities are convinced that care for the citizens' health should be an absolute priority of state policy and spend about 77 billion liras for healthcare annually.
As a result, 28,000 medical facilities provide excellent medical care in the country. About 50 centers have certificate of JCI (Joint Commission International), the international improver of healthcare quality and safety across the globe. The index of certificates obtained is the largest. To compare, Israel has 20 JCI-accredited facilities, and Germany — only 10 clinics of this type.
| Currency | lira (you also can pay for services in dollars and euros) |
| Best period for the trip | May-October |
| Language | Turkish (most of medical staff speaks English fluently) |
| Visa | is not required for a trip of at least 30 days per visit |
| Time difference with Europe | 3 hours |
| Time difference with the USA | 8 hours |
| Capital | Ankara |
| Medical tourism center | Istanbul |
| Popular resorts | Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Marmaris |
In Turkey, hotels of different price ranges and service levels are presented. The level of Turkish hotels is comparable to hotels in Tunisia, Morocco or Egypt. Most tourists choose 4 and 5 star hotels with all-inclusive meals. Such hotels have everything for a comfortable stay: varied food, a large well-groomed territory, animation for children and adults. Some hotels have their own water park, which guests can use for free. Budget travelers can afford to book an economical 3-star hotel with half board or no meals at all.
The main advantage of Turkish resorts is the long beach season. On the Mediterranean coast, it starts in April and lasts until November. In the resorts of the Aegean Sea — from May to October. The most comfortable time for swimming is from mid-June to the end of October. A large influx of tourists is in July-August, when the air temperature is +38°C, and the water warms up to +27°C.
In 2020, the Republic of Turkey has visa-free agreements with 89 states. Some foreigners are exempted from obtaining entry visas, others are required to receive an electronic visa (e-Visa), and still others must apply for a visa at Turkish missions abroad.
What states need a visa for treatment in Turkey and what countries can cross the border free and easy read here.
Visas for travel to Turkey require a number of documents. The necessary papers can be submitted 90 days before the planned departure. Lists of documents includes: