A beautiful website and a polite manager on WhatsApp are not a license. In practice, many patients do not know who exactly they are signing a contract with: the clinic, an intermediary, or someone else entirely. Let’s spend ten minutes on five simple checks.
One more reason to ask questions early. Some less careful clinics say that a certain aesthetic procedure will be performed by the doctor personally. On the day, the patient learns that a nurse will do it, “following the doctor’s recommendation or instructions”. That can be perfectly legitimate in some settings, but many patients would not be happy to find out only at the door. It is far better to ask in advance.
Three different players. First, keep three players apart. The medical facility is the hospital or clinic where the treatment takes place. The doctor is the person who treats you. The intermediary is the agency that organizes treatment for international patients. Each has its own documents, and they are not always the same.
1. Who exactly is offering you treatment. Ask for the full legal name of the company you sign the contract with, and the address of the clinic where the procedure will happen. Good answer: they give both names and explain how the two are connected. Worrying answer: “our clinic”, with no name and no address. What to ask: “What is the full name of the company I will sign with, and in which clinic will the procedure take place?”
2. Authorization to work with international patients. In Turkey, facilities and intermediaries that work with foreign patients need an authorization from the state. According to the regulation on international health tourism (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi ve Turistin Sağlığı Hakkında Yönetmelik, published on 26 April 2025 in the Official Gazette, No. 32882), this authorization is mandatory (Article 5). There are two separate documents:
| Who it is issued to | Name of the document | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Clinic, hospital, medical center | Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Sağlık Tesisi Yetki Belgesi | Turkish Ministry of Health |
| Intermediary company | Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Aracı Kuruluş Yetki Belgesi | USHAŞ |
The key point: an intermediary’s permit does not replace the clinic’s permit. If you book through an agency, check both organizations.
Where you can check:
- The clinic. The Ministry of Health publishes lists of authorized facilities (official lists, last updated 5 October 2026). Open the Yetişkilendirilmiş Sağlık Tesisleri Listesi and compare the legal name, city and address. The lists may be split by type of facility.
- The intermediary. The HealthTürkiye agency catalog lists authorized agencies. Compare the company name and the permit number, not just the advertising brand.
- The issuing body. USHAŞ is the authority that issues permits to intermediaries. Its “Başvuru Sorgulama” section is for checking an application, so I would not present it to patients as a public check of whether a license is valid.
One more point, for medical accuracy. The new regulation also sets separate accreditation and certification requirements for facilities, with a deadline of 31 December 2026. That is a different question from holding a medical tourism permit. So a permit by itself does not mean a clinic is “accredited”, and it is not a state guarantee of the quality of treatment.
Good answer: they give you the number and a copy of the permit, and are not offended when you check. Worrying answer: “We have everything, just trust us.” What to ask: “Could I have the number and a copy of your authorization to work with international patients?”
3. Who the doctor is, and what their specialty is. Ask for the name of the doctor who will perform the procedure, their specialty and diploma, and then check them in an official professional registry. Good answer: the doctor is named, with their specialty and experience in the exact procedure you are planning. Worrying answer: “The doctor will be assigned later.” What to ask: “Who exactly will operate on me, and what is their specialty?”
4. The contract and payment details. The contract should be with the company you have checked, and payment should go to that company’s account, not to a private person’s card. Good answer: the payment details match the legal name from step 1. Worrying answer: you are asked to send money to a personal account, or to a different company. What to ask: “Which company’s account should I pay into, and what does the contract say?”
5. Contact on site and after treatment. According to the official pages, an intermediary is expected to provide multilingual service around the clock. Even if you never call at night, it matters to know who is responsible for staying in touch. Good answer: there is a clear channel of communication in a language you understand. Worrying answer: one personal number of one manager, with no backup. What to ask: “Who can I reach if my coordinator is unavailable, and in which languages?”
Warning signs. No legal name and no address. A permit that is “being obtained”. The doctor is not named. Payment to a private account. Pressure to pay today because of a “special offer”.
The bottom line. A license means a clinic operates legally. It does not guarantee quality, and it does not replace a conversation with the doctor. But it is the minimum to start from, and you can check it in ten minutes.
Checklist: a 10-minute license check
- What is the full name of the company I will sign with, and in which clinic will the procedure take place?
- Could I have the number and a copy of your authorization to work with international patients?
- Who exactly will operate on me, and what is their specialty?
- Which company’s account should I pay into, and what does the contract say?
- Who can I reach if my coordinator is unavailable, and in which languages?
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