Establishing a medical clinic in Turkey

Establishing a medical clinic in Turkey is within the framework of Turkey's efforts to allow all foreign doctors and all specialties to work in the country, as a foreign doctor of Turkish nationality who has passed the matriculation exam in the Turkish capital, Ankara, is allowed to open a clinic on Turkish territory.

Conditions for establishing a medical clinic in Turkey

  • Submitting an application to the Ministry of Health by a Turkish doctor.
  • Obtaining a work permit showing the registration of the medical clinic.
  • Adhere to the conditions for building the clinic established by the Ministry of Health.
  • Implement policies that comply with international medical standards, including separation and removal of medical waste.

It also allows medical work in one of the specialties of the activities of the Turkish health care industry, and the establishment of a medical clinic in Turkey.

Foreign investors interested in starting a healthcare business in Turkey can work in one of the following areas:

  • Production and sale of pharmaceuticals.
  • Establishment of medical cabinets.
  • Opening large clinics that provide a variety of medical services.
  • Establishing health resorts.
  • Offer different massages and treatments.
  • Provide acupuncture services.

Legislation regarding the establishment of a medical clinic in Turkey

One of the most important laws governing the healthcare industry and establishing a medical clinic in Turkey is the licensing regulations for human medicinal products that provide for the production and sale of pharmaceutical products. 

Another important law is the Health Insurance Law, which states:

  •  All individuals living in Turkey have health insurance.
  • Physicians and other specialists must optionally register in the specialist registry.
  •  They can also join the Turkish Medical Association.

Medical residency in Turkey

In 2011 Turkey passed a law allowing foreign doctors to work in its territory due to the shortage of doctors, especially in the private sector and to establish a medical clinic in Turkey.

It is worth noting that in European countries there are 340 doctors per 100,000 people, while in Turkey there are 156 doctors per 100,000 people. 

Therefore, Turkey seeks to increase the number of doctors by opening the door for all doctors from all countries of the world to work in its territory after fulfilling all the required conditions.

Here it is possible to refer to the steps required for each doctor to specialize in Turkey, including new laws added in the year 2020, which are:

 1) Learn Turkish.

 2) Pass the STS test.

 3) Complete the mandatory training.

 4) Pass the TUS test.

Procedures for establishing a clinic in Turkey in detail

As for the procedures for establishing a medical clinic in Turkey in detail, as follows:

The first step:

Preparing the documents required to request an equivalency to the Turkish Minister of Higher Education, which are:

  • Bachelor's degree attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of residence.
  • Notarized copy from your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • A high school diploma attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of residence.
  • A copy of the resident's passport.
  • Power of attorney for the agent for the purposes of requesting the equivalency of the ministry.

 The second step:

  • You must go to Turkey with the same person or send his documents to the agent.

 The third step:

  • The documents are submitted to the Turkish Ministry of Higher Education.
  • The review process will take 8 to 12 months.

The fourth step:

During this period, the applicant must learn the Turkish language and prepare for an equivalent exam.

Fifth step:

The applicant has to enter the equivalent test called STS (seviye tespit sınavı) which is held twice a year in April and September, in Ankara. The test consists of 120 questions as follows:

  • Medicine 40 questions.
  • Pediatrics 30 questions.
  • General surgery 30 questions.
  • 30 questions in Obs & gayne.

The passing score here is 35 out of 100.

 Sixth step:

 Mandatory training in a government teaching hospital for a period of 6 to 9 months in (medicine - surgery - pediatrics - obstetrics and gynecology - family medicine - emergency medicine).

Seventh step:

Entrance and examination of Turkish Medical Specialization (TUS) and a person can choose his field according to his certificate in the examination.

TUS is an abbreviation of (Tıpta Uzmanlık Sınavı) which means Medical Specialty Exam, which is held twice a year in April and September.

The test consists of two sessions on the same day. The first session contains 120 MCQs in basic sciences, with a duration of 150 minutes, and the questions are divided as follows:

  • Anatomy 14 questions.
  • Physiology - histology - embryology 18 questions.
  • biochemistry 22 questions.
  • Microbiology 22 questions.
  •  Pathology 22 questions.
  •  Pharmacology 22 questions. 

Doctors salaries in Turkey 2021

A person who works as a doctor in Turkey usually earns around 18,400 TL per month, with salaries ranging between 6760 TRY (lowest average) and 31,100 TRY (highest average, actual maximum salary higher).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transportation and other benefits. Salaries vary greatly between different doctor/female professions. If you are interested in the salary for a particular job, see the details below for salaries for specific job titles.

Salaries for specific jobs

  • Advanced Nutrition Assistant 11300 TL.
  • Advanced Practice Provider 11,000 TL.
  • Allergist 14400 TL.
  • Behavioral health specialist 8600 TL.
  • Chiropractor 9130 TRY.
  • Clinical Psychologist 24400 TL.
  • Correctional therapist 14300 TL.
  • Psychology consultant 19300 TL.
  • Dermatologist 23700 TL.
  • Nutritionist 16000 TL.
  • Doctor 20700 TL.
  • Emergency department doctor 18500 TL.
  • Exercise physiologist 19900 TL.
  • Forensic medicine specialist 20400 TL.
  • General doctor 16400 TL.
  • Genetic advisor 12400 TL.
  • Internist 24,700 TL.
  • Intervention 24200 TL.
  • Invasive Cardiologist 33,000 TL.
  • Mental health treatment 13900 TL.
  • Physiotherapist 23600 TL.
  • Neurologist 24300 TL.
  • Neurophysiology technician 7150 TL.
  • Nuclear medicine doctor 20300 TL.
  • Obstetrician and gynecologist 21600 TL.
  • Occupational health safety specialist 11500 TL.
  • Ophthalmologist 16200 TL.
  • Ophthalmologist 17200 TL.
  • Pediatrician 19,100 TL.
  • Physiotherapist 12600 TL.
  • Physiotherapy Director 14800 TL.
  • Doctor - Anesthesia 28300 TL.
  • Doctor - Cardiology 30,900 TL.
  • Doctor - CCU, his salary is 16,200 TL.
  • Dermatologist 23300 TL.
  •  Doctor - emergency room 17900 TL.
  •  Doctor - Endocrinology 23300 TL.
  •  Doctor - Family Clinic 16600 TL.
  •  Doctor - Gastroenterology 20700 TL.
  •  Doctor - year 17,000 TL.
  •  Doctor - Geriatrics 15000 TL.
  •  Doctor - Hematology and Oncology 21,400 TL.
  •  Doctor - Immunology / Allergy 23100 TL.
  •  Doctor - Infectious Diseases 20,100 TL.
  •  Doctor - internist 25100 TL.
  •  Doctor - Maternal / Fetal Medicine 20500 TL.
  •  Doctor - Nephrology 25600 TL.
  •  Doctor - Neurologist 23700 TL.
  •  Doctor - Nuclear Medicine 20500 TL.
  •  Doctor - Obstetrics and Gynecology 22200 TL.
  •  Doctor - Occupational Medicine 17500 TL.
  •  Physician - Ophthalmology 15200 TL.
  •  Doctor - Ear, Nose and Throat 14600 TL.
  •  Doctor - Pain Management 13900 TL.
  •  Doctor - Pathology 18,000 TL.
  •  Doctor - Pediatric Cardiology 22700 TL.
  •  Doctor - Newborn 20100 TL.
  •  Doctor - Pediatric 18500 TL.
  •  Doctor - Physicist 20600 TL.
  •  Doctor - foot treatment 19300 TL.
  •  Physician - Pulmonology 15600 TL.
  •  Doctor - Radiotherapy 23600 TL.
  •  Doctor - Radiology 24100 TL.
  •  Physician - Rheumatology 21700 TL.
  •  Doctor - Sports Medicine 22000 TL.
  •  Doctor - Urology 29100 TL.
  •  Physician assistant 12500 TL.
  •  Physiotherapist 14300 TL.
  •  Foot therapist 14700 TL.
  •  Preventive medicine doctor 19600 TL.
  •  Psychiatrist 20800 TL.
  •  Psychologist 20000 TL.
  •  Psychometry expert 17,600 Turkish liras.
  •  Radiologist 22200 TL.
  •  Registered Respiratory Therapist 13000 TL.
  •  Skin care specialist 12200 TL.
  •  Urologist 27200 TL.
  •  Vision rehabilitation therapist 13100 TL.