The Turkish government claims that last year 500,000 foreigners visited Turkey and that they paid over $800m for treatment.  But is that true?

The figure of $800m would leave Turkey at roughly twice the size of the London healthcare tourism market. We estimate that it would be about the same size as Germany. Ian Youngman, a guru on healthcare tourism reckons that 85% are Europeans.

But the figure, whilst impressive, is only part of the story. Yes, as our interview with Hasan Kus of Anadalou Medical Center shows, Turkish hospitals are making substantial inroads in East Europe, the Stans and the Middle East. But, as Kus himself points out, well over half the total is likely to be Germans and Dutch citizens of Turkish origin, returning to what for many of them is still their homeland for treatment. As he was puzzled by the figures, Kus says investigated them himself. Why else would so many German and Dutch citizens head to remote cities in Anatolia for dental or medical treatment?

This is an important general point for anyone tracking healthcare tourism. We are told, for instance, that the same applies to India. It is American citizens of Indian origin who go to India for treatment.

The point is important because the growth rate is very different for the two groups. You could argue, for instance, that in the long-term the propensity for German citizens of Turkish origin to return to Turkey will actually fall as they become more integrated within German society.