The most important things you need to know about treatment in Turkey Part 1

When faced with the dreaded diagnosis of cancer, many people choose to seek cancer treatment in Turkey. The positives of such a choice are really many, but keep in mind that there are some important things and peculiarities when staying in the country for treatment or as a companion. It is good to know them. The information in this article will be very useful if you or a loved one is about to travel. And if the amount for the treatment proves to be unaffordable for the family - we - Pavel Andreev Foundation are at your disposal.

Check out the article 100% transparency of donations to charity campaigns on the PavelAndreev.ORG platform to learn more about us.

Travelling to Turkey for treatment - what do I need to know?

You can enter Turkey from the summer of 2022 with an ID card only. This makes things considerably easier as you don't need a foreign passport. Such facilitation in case of an urgent departure is really helpful.

Some of the best clinics in Turkey can also treat children. Getting sick is always unpleasant, but when it comes to a child, it is even sadder. That is why if funds are insufficient and a charity campaign has to be organised, money is usually easier to raise. In the event that both parents accompany the child, then crossing the border becomes easier. However, if only one parent is travelling, a notarised declaration of consent from the other parent will be required. This should state that it applies not only to EU countries but also to Turkey. It is a good idea to have several copies of the declaration, as Bulgarian customs usually keep one.

Vehicle documents when travelling for medical treatment in Turkey

A vignette is required to travel on the motorways in Turkey. Its name is HGS. It can be purchased in different ways. An option is to take it as soon as you cross the border. There is also a kiosk about fifty kilometers after the border. When buying for the first time on such a vignette they give a sticker. You have to stick it in the middle of the windscreen. The best placement is above the rear view mirror. Each time the vignette is charged with money. Usually to Istanbul and back takes about 80-90 pounds, depending on which road you choose.

In case you are travelling by car, you will need a green card and also a power of attorney if the car is not in your name.

If a charity fundraising event is organised for your particular case, you can also allow for transport costs for the trip. If you post your cause on PavelAndreev.ORG, you can easily share it on social networks.

Pavel Andreev Foundation fundraising campaign for treatment in Turkey

Often treatment or transplant in Turkey can cost a lot of money. In this case, it is best to create a donation campaign on the Pavel Andreev platform.

Everywhere in Istanbul you will have the possibility to pay by card. Before you leave, you can request to have the money from your online donation campaign transferred to you so that you can use it. You will be able to use your card to pay at hospitals, restaurants, gas stations and hotels. However, it is advisable to have around 200 Turkish Lira cash before travelling to Turkey.

Think carefully about the target amount of the campaign for treatment in Turkey with fundraising through Pavel Andreev platform. The very first visit to the hospital usually requires the first payment to be made in cash or by card. This is a condition to make sure you are ready to pay. Payments can then also be made by bank transfer. It is best to increase card limits before departure to avoid getting into an unpleasant situation.

Also check out our article with 5 reasons to choose a fundraising campaign instead of personal loans for life-threatening illness treatment costs. And you can check out the rest of our blog articles with helpful tips.

Phone and internet

Before leaving for treatment in Turkey, it's very important that all the details are as well thought out as possible. Often, however, especially - put under pressure, people overlook some details. Clearly, questions like "Treatment in Turkey prices" or "Treatment in Turkey" reviews are always on the agenda. But there are other things, not so obvious, but if we miss them we could create a strain for ourselves. And at a time like this, it is definitely unnecessary. Turkey is a non-EU country, so you have to keep in mind that calls and mobile data are very expensive. There is an option to launch a package offered as a service by Bulgarian mobile operators. Such a package can only be activated if you use mobile data. However, if you use Wi-Fi, then no fee is charged.

There is one more very important feature with phones. It is a form of local protection against the import of foreign equipment. The term is not entirely clear, but it happens after about four or five months,. Then they will block your device and it will be left with no functionality other than pictures and videos. This can bring serious discomfort, because this is your connection to the world. This is a local protection against importing equipment from abroad.

There are also peculiarities around using a Bulgarian SIM card. If your stay out of the country lasts longer than three months, your operator will send you a message that the tariff plan needs to be changed. To avoid such problems, the card must have even a minimal stay in Bulgaria during that time. In hospitals in Turkey you may often come across travelling Bulgarians who could help. If you are unable to return home, you can ask someone to bring your card to Bulgaria and then return it. This way you can easily secure another 3 months stay.

Stay for treatment in Turkey

Under Turkish law, foreign nationals are allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days for every 6 months. This means that they can spend 180 days there in a calendar year. In case the cancer treatment procedure in Turkey will take longer, you will need to get a temporary residence visa.

You can do this locally, and the hospital will usually provide full assistance and liaise with the relevant authorities. The procedure is unfortunately long and expensive. You are not allowed to leave the country until the paperwork is completed. This is another not insignificant expense that you can anticipate when setting up a PavelAndreev.ORG donation campaign.

If you have your own transport, you will also have to take care of the car stay. There is also a limit for it. If it is not respected, you may have problems at the border. When obtaining residence documents, you need to go to customs and apply that you are resident and the car is with you.

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