The total cost of West syndrome treatment in Turkey varies based on your treatment plan. A consultation with a pediatric neurologist is approximately $120. An MRI with anesthesia costs around $700, and an EEG examination is about $250. Additionally, a 12-hour EEG monitoring session is priced at $1,800, and a brain MRI with contrast is $750. For those requiring hospitalization, a day in a service room costs $650, and the ketogenic diet preparation program is $1,650. The treatment program is determined after an individual assessment of each patient.
| Turkey | Austria | Spain | |
| Vagus nerve stimulation | from $12,000 | from $30,000 | from $15,000 |
| Stereotaxic surgeries | from $2,907 | from $25,000 | from $12,000 |
| Multiple subpial transections | from $20,610 | - | from $70,296 |
Dr. Baris Metin specializes in epilepsy with 26 years of experience of experience, including work in Turkey and Belgium. His research in functional neuroimaging and EEG enhances his approach to West syndrome.
Prof. Kütükçü's expertise includes Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and he trained in neurology at the prestigious University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Comu specializes in pediatric neurology with over 30 years of experience of experience, trained in the USA at Rainbow Babies And Children's Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh.
Top-ranked pediatric neurologists for West syndrome in Turkey include Dr. Sinan Comu, Associate Professor Baris Ekici, and Dr. Ebru Erbayat Altay. These specialists hold board certifications and have completed advanced training at top-tier U.S. institutions like the University of Pittsburgh and Washington University.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients seeking West syndrome care in Turkey benefit from a high density of U.S.-trained specialists in Istanbul. For example, Dr. Ebru Erbayat Altay and Dr. Sinan Comu bring American protocols from Barnes-Jewish and Pitt, which is vital for managing medication-resistant infantile spasms early.
Patient Consensus: Families emphasize that securing an EEG and MRI immediately after symptoms start is vital. They often travel to major Istanbul centers to find centralized expertise for rare pediatric conditions.
Turkish specialists manage drug-resistant West syndrome using neurostimulation, dietary protocols, and resective neurosurgery. Experts like Dr. Sultan Tarlaci and Dr. Yasar Kutukcu provide advanced therapies such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for complex pediatric epilepsy cases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Patients can access doctors with diverse international training backgrounds. Dr. Sinan Comu at Memorial Şişli Hospital and Dr. Ebru Erbayat Altay at Medipol Mega University Hospital both bring USA-based expertise from institutions like Washington University and the University of Pittsburgh. This ensures that infants with infantile spasms receive care based on North American clinical protocols in Istanbul.
Patient Consensus: Parents found that the hospital teams were very attentive during the long EEG monitoring periods. They mentioned feeling more at ease when translating complicated neurological terms was handled for them by the hospital staff.
You should bring past EEG recordings, brain MRI scans, and clear videos of spasms to your consultation. These documents help specialists like Dr. Ebru Erbayat Altay or Dr. Sinan Comu confirm hypsarrhythmia. This specific brain wave pattern is a hallmark of West syndrome.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Specialists in Turkey often have international training. Dr. Ebru Erbayat Altay trained at Washington University in the USA – a top center for epilepsy. Choosing a doctor with US or European fellowships means your child receives care based on the latest global protocols.
Patient Consensus: Parents noticed that having videos of the spasms saved time during the first visit. They felt relieved when doctors reviewed the footage immediately to help with the diagnosis.
Turkish hospitals confirm West syndrome using advanced electroencephalography (EEG) and 3 Tesla MRI to detect hypsarrhythmia and brain malformations. Specialists like Dr. Bariş Ekici and Dr. Sinan Comu utilize American and international protocols and metabolic screening to identify the underlying cause and guide therapy.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish neurology departments often blend clinical care with research, as seen at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. Specialists such as Dr. Baris Metin integrate functional neuroimaging with standard EEG. This research-heavy approach can improve diagnostic precision for patients with unclear symptoms. Some specialists, including Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlaci, have over 25 years of experience and have published international research specifically on complex brain diseases.
Patient Consensus: Parents find that recording spasm videos on their phones helps doctors reach a diagnosis faster. Many recommend 24-hour EEG monitoring because shorter tests might miss the classic chaotic brain waves. While initial MRIs are used to check for structural issues, patients noticed that EEG remains the most decisive test.
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: