Turkey, Istanbul
Imran Onur
18 years of experience
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in Turkey typically costs from $19,000 to $25,300. The final price depends on the specific valve brand, the hospital's accreditation level, and the patient's overall health condition. Patients save approximately 65% compared to the US, where the average cost is $63,000. Most Turkish packages include the prosthetic valve, preoperative cardiac assessments, and airport transfers.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Choosing JCI-accredited facilities like Hisar Hospital Intercontinental or Anadolu Medical Center ensures top-tier safety. These clinics often bundle luxury services, yet prices remain significantly lower than in the US. For example, Liv Hospital Ulus offers TAVI packages around $23,000. This includes virtual angiography for advanced diagnostics and specialized post-operative care. It is a smart move for patients seeking Western-standard cardiac care at a fraction of the price.
| Turkey | Austria | Spain | |
| Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) | from $19,000 | ≈ $28,000 | from $50,500 |
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Please note that this timeline may vary based on individual patient needs and recovery rates.
Dr. Ibrahim Halil Tanboga is an interventional cardiologist at Hisar Hospital Intercontinental in Istanbul. He specializes in heart valve diseases and congenital structural heart conditions. Dr. Tanboga conducted specialized heart valve research at St. Thomas Hospital in London. He holds a PhD in Biostatistics.
Dr. Servet Izci is a cardiologist with 24 years of clinical practice. He earned his MD at Fırat University (1996–2002). He completed a cardiology residency at Kartal Koşuyolu Training and Research Hospital (2010–2015). He worked as a consultant cardiologist at Kartal Koşuyolu (2015–2025) and Pendik Medical Park (2025–2026). He now practices at Lokman Hekim Istanbul Hospital (2026–present). He is a member of the Istanbul Medical Chamber and the Turkish Society of Cardiology.
Clinical focus: coronary angiography and stenting via radial access. He also performs peripheral and carotid artery interventions. He manages arrhythmias, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart failure. Scientific output: three publications. Topics include catestatin as a predictor of mortality in acute pulmonary embolism, ECG changes during alcohol withdrawal, and the increased risk of high‑grade AV block in non‑O blood types.
Dr. Fatih Mehmet Ucar is an interventional cardiologist at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital. He specializes in electrophysiology and arrhythmia treatment. Dr. Ucar completed residency training at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. He also underwent electrophysiology training at Lübeck Hospital in Germany.
Performs TAVI procedures at Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital – trained at Toronto General Hospital and Koşuyolu Heart Training and Research Hospital.
A minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly.
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.
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 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:
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.