How We Select Providers

This page explains the criteria we use, the evidence we look for, and how providers can lose their place in our coverage.

The six dimensions we evaluate

We do not rank providers on price. We evaluate them across six dimensions, all of which must meet our standards before a provider appears in our editorial coverage.

01Accreditation and licensing

Minimum requirement: Active Turkish Ministry of Health licensing (Sağlık Bakanlığı ruhsatı).

Strongly preferred:

• —JCI (Joint Commission International) accreditation for hospitals
• —ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification
• —TEMOS International Healthcare Accreditation
• —Specialty-specific certifications (e.g., ISHRS for hair restoration surgeons)

At the clinician level:

• —Verified dental, medical, or specialty education
• —Documented years in independent practice
• —Membership in relevant professional bodies
• —Where claimed: verifiable case volume and outcome data

We verify accreditation claims directly with the issuing bodies. Expired certifications, suspended licenses, or unverifiable credentials disqualify a provider.

02Pre-treatment communication quality

The way a clinic communicates before treatment predicts the way they handle complications during treatment.

We look for:

• —Written treatment plans with named clinician responsibility
• —Response time to international inquiries (24–48 hours for substantive replies)
• —Multi-language support adequate to the patient's needs
• —Willingness to decline cases unsuitable for medical travel
• —Clear pre-treatment screening (medical history, imaging review, allergy and medication checks)
• —Realistic timeline communication, including post-operative recovery periods

Disqualifying signals:

• —Same-day quotes without reviewing scans or medical history
• —Pressure tactics ("limited offer", "decide today")
• —Inability to name the treating clinician before arrival
• —Refusal to provide treatment plans in writing

03Materials and clinical transparency

Patients should know what is being placed in their body.

For dental work, we verify:

• —Implant brands used (Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Astra Tech, MIS, Megagen)
• —Crown and veneer material specifications
• —Sterilization protocols
• —Imaging equipment standards (CBCT availability, panoramic systems)

For hair restoration:

• —Surgeon-led versus technician-led procedures (disclosed honestly)
• —Maximum graft counts per session
• —Donor area management protocols

Providers who cannot or will not provide this information in writing before treatment are not featured.

04Post-operative support quality

What happens after treatment matters as much as what happens during.

Requirements:

• —Named clinical contact available during the recovery period
• —Multilingual support during international hours
• —Documented protocols for managing complications remotely
• —Coordination capability with the patient's home-country providers
• —Realistic warranties on materials and workmanship, in writing

Strongly preferred:

• —Named UK, German, or other partner clinicians in patient home countries
• —24/7 multilingual emergency lines (not just business hours email)
• —Structured follow-up at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year

05Recovery environment quality

Medical tourism is not just about the procedure. The environment in which patients recover affects clinical outcomes.

We assess:

• —Partner accommodation quality (quiet, accessible, appropriate climate — not just star ratings)
• —Distance from clinic and emergency facilities
• —Food and beverage options suitable for post-operative diets
• —Transport logistics for follow-up visits

A clinic's choice of partner hotels reveals their priorities. Five-star city center hotels are not always restorative. Smaller, well-chosen properties often serve better.

06Independent review patterns

Sources we consider:

• —Patient communities (Reddit, RealSelf, specialty forums)
• —Independent review platforms (Trustpilot, with awareness of review-gating practices)
• —Local press coverage in Turkish and international media
• —Discussion in professional and academic medical contexts

What we discount:

• —Reviews on the clinic's own website
• —Influencer content marked or unmarked as sponsored
• —Same-week before/after photos as marketing (recovery is slower than this)
• —Review patterns suggesting manipulation

The selection process

How we treat conflicts of interest

If we develop a commercial relationship with a featured provider — referral arrangements, paid placements, affiliate compensation — it is disclosed in our Editorial Principles, on the relevant provider or treatment pages, and within any AI-assisted responses that mention the provider.

Commercial relationships do not change our six-criteria selection process. A paying partner that loses standing on the six criteria loses editorial coverage, regardless of the commercial relationship.

How providers lose coverage

A featured provider can be removed at any time, based on:

• —Verified patient complaints meeting specific thresholds
• —Loss or suspension of accreditation
• —Pattern of communication breakdowns
• —Substantive changes in clinical leadership or standards
• —Failure to maintain six-criteria standards on quarterly review

Removal is not punitive — it is editorial. We do not publish public lists of removed providers, but we will confirm directly to inquirers whether a specific provider remains in our coverage.

Provider applications

We do not accept applications for editorial coverage. Providers we feature are identified through our research process and approached directly. This protects editorial independence.

Providers who believe their work matches our editorial focus may write to us with information. We will read it, but inclusion remains an editorial decision.

How to flag a concern

If you have a concern about a provider featured on TurkeyHealth.care: hello@turkeyhealth.care

We investigate substantive concerns within ten business days. Where concerns are verified, we update coverage. Where concerns are unsupported, we explain our position.