The most important things you need to know about treatment in Turkey Part 2

Accommodation in a Turkish hospital for cancer treatment

If you missed the first part of the article you can do so here : The most important things to know when undergoing treatment in Turkey Part 1

It is common practice for Turkish hospitals to have contracts with hotels and for accommodation to take place there.

When treatment starts, if it does not require continuous hospitalization, people are sent to the hotel. In the mornings, there is a transport service that transports patients and takes them to the hospital if procedures are planned. Necessary tests and manipulations are carried out, and then a specialised transport brings you back to the hotel. The service is free, you just need to arrange with the interpreter to be put on the list, otherwise they won't take you.

Payment for the hotel stay can be made directly at check-out. It can also be done by invoice from the hospital. People often prefer the second method because then the hotel stay can be funded from the donation account. If you are in need of funds for cancer treatment in Turkey or transplant in Turkey, feel free to set up a charity campaign on PavelAndreev.ORG.

And in our help center you can see What are the conditions for starting a campaign?

In case the condition is more severe and requires hospitalization, the placement is in the hospital. If the patient is a child, a parent is accommodated with him/her. Two companions are not allowed in the hospital room, so if both parents are there, one will have to stay in a hotel.

Transport

Driving in Turkey, as well as parking, can be a real adventure. Often the rules are not obeyed, and the first one to pass is the cheekier. Despite the huge boulevards there are often severe traffic jams.

Parking spaces are also hard to find. Hospitals usually have paid parking. Those who are hospitalized are given a coupon for free parking.

Nutrition

If you need to be treated in Turkey, or to accompany a sick person, and you are on a free regime rather than permanently housed in hospital, there are a number of meal vapriants.

Istanbul shopping malls usually have a food floor. The variety there is enormous. There are also many restaurants, and the food is usually delicious. The majority of hotels have a delivery option on the menu. The service is quick and you can also pay by card.

Prices and payments in Turkey

In Turkey, bargaining is a matter of prestige. The main fear of many people is that by haggling they will not be paid attention to or something like that. However, this is not the case with treatment in Turkey. Even for routine procedures one could haggle, but for the treatment of certain life-threatening diseases there are fixed prices and offers that are rarely subject to comment. Of course, people working in hospitals are human too and in some cases are willing to make concessions. They may get you into a situation, but if you don't explicitly raise the issue of dropping the price they consider the amount to suit you and it's okay to pay it.

Doctors are not involved in any way in the process of administration, fees, prices etc. They dictate the treatment scheme, they do not interfere in other situations. Only people in administration deal with payments.

Based on the experience of people who have already been treated in Turkey, we at the Pavel Andreev Foundation advise you to pay for each individual procedure immediately before it takes place. It is not necessary to pay in advance the whole stage of treatment. If you are going to have say a series of 5 chemotherapies, pay for each one separately. In the event that you do decide to pay all five upfront, there is a non-negligible chance that some of the money has been diverted to some other tests or procedures. This may result in the need for a new payment.

Campaign for treatment in Turkey with fundraising through the Pavel Andreev Foundation

Often treatment in Turkey costs a really serious amount of money. In this case, it is best to create a donation campaign on the Pavel Andreev platform. Think carefully about all aspects surrounding the upcoming trip, determine the target amount and start a charity campaign.

Most places in Istanbul offer the possibility to pay by card. Before departure, you can request to have the money from your online donation campaign transferred to you to use during your stay in Turkey. You will be able to use your card to pay at hospitals, restaurants, petrol stations and hotels. However, it is advisable to have a certain amount of Turkish Lira in cash before travelling to Turkey.

Calculate well what should be the target amount of the campaign for treatment in Turkey with fundraising through Pavel Andreev platform. The very first visit to the hospital will usually require 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.

Language

We are usually used to saying "...if you know English, you have no problems". However, you could get by with basic English. Since we are neighbours and Turkish words are very present in the Bulgarian language, with a longer stay you gradually start to understand each other, even when everyone speaks in their own language. Google translator is also an effective option, especially in your speaking part. A smile and a friendly attitude always works too. Usually people in Turkey are quite helpful.

When it comes to health, preserving it is very important and we are ready for anything. If the illness is severe, it often happens that the patient is referred to a foreign clinic for treatment. The most common choice is Turkey, as the treatment is considerably cheaper and the medicine in our southern neighbour is world-class. There are really good Turkish doctors working there.

However, the money often proves to be prohibitive for the family and a donation campaign has to be organised. Thanks to the many good people willing to help, the funds are usually raised in time and treatment in Turkey proceeds. It is necessary to do research beforehand to be clear where to head. It is enough to type on the Internet "Treatment in Turkey reviews" or "Best hospitals in Turkey" and you will gather enough initial information.

If you or a loved one needs treatment in Turkey, don't hesitate to seek financial help by organizing a fundraising campaign on PavelAndreev.ORG.