Healthcare

The healthcare system in Turkey has gone through a series of crucial reforms in recent years. The EU accession and harmonization process has also provided additional momentum for implementation of changes in the health care system.

The sector has undergone structural changes since 1984, when Turkey brought its legislation into line with the EU's Good Manufacturing Practices directives for medicinal products.

Turkey is one of the major pharmaceutical markets in the world.
Turkey’s successful economic performance in recent years has had a positive effect on the pharmaceutical industry as well as on many other industries
The Turkish pharmaceutical industry exports to more than 100 countries.
Turkey is the 6th largest pharmaceuticals market in Europe.
Turkey is the world's 16th largest producer of pharmaceuticals.

More than 25,000 people are currently employed in the pharmaceuticals sector.
Prices of pharmaceutical products in Turkey are regulated and controlled by the General Directorate of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacies, operating under the Turkish Ministry of Health.

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Life expectancy, average (years)	-	-	-	73.7	73.9	74.1
Life expectancy, male (years)	-	-	-	71.2	71.4	71.6
Life expectancy, female (years)	-	-	-	76.3	76.5	76.8
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)	38.3	37.0	35.6	34.2	33.1	32.0
Healthcare spending (TRY billion)	50.5	58.8	72.0	85.5	99.3	110.8
Healthcare spending (% of GDP)	5.9	6.0	6.5	6.8	7.0	7.0
Healthcare spending (USD billion)	38.8	47.6	52.5	62.3	72.4	80.7
Healthcare spending (USD per person)	515	625	680	797	915	1,011
Physicians (per 1,000 population)	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4
Pharmaceutical sales (USD million)	8,486	9,844	9,583	10,437	11,429	12,571
Source: IMS Health

Access to sanitation	100%	[15th of 129]
Birth rate, crude > per 1,000 people	18.9 per 1,000 people	[102nd of 195]
Contraception	64%	[19th of 89]
Daily smokers	32.1%	[5th of 30]
Drug access	95%	[35th of 163]
Hospital beds	2.6 per 1,000 people	[28th of 29]
Hospital beds > per 1,000 people	2.6 per 1,000 people	[1st of 149]
Life expectancy at birth > male	70.67 years	[103rd of 226]
Life expectancy at birth > total population	73.14 years	[107th of 225]
Maternal mortality	130 per 100,000	[58th of 136]
Obesity	12%	[18th of 29]
Physicians > per 1,000 people	1.3 per 1,000 people	[2nd of 148]
Probability of not reaching 40 years of age	9.6%	[73rd of 111]
Spending > per capita	153	[56th of 133]
Tobacco > cigarette consumption	2,394	[10th of 106]
Tobacco > total adult smokers	44	[7th of 117]
Source: IMS Health

Strengths

Falling morbidity & mortality rates
Growing population and improving demographic indicators
Improving healthcare awareness
Availability of a skilled workforce
Growing healthcare investments, including growing foreign investment in recent years
Market regulations increasingly in line with EU
Government’s commitment to healthcare industry improvements

Weaknesses

Low per capita healthcare spending of USD 530, putting Turkey in a position behind many European countries
Domestic patent law and intellectual property remaining below international standards
High dependence on the import of hi-tech drugs

Opportunities

Harmonization with the EU and sector modernization leading to considerable potential
Significant scope for growth, given the size of the population and current low consumption rate
Recent introduction of new R&D legislation, designed to facilitate investment
One of the fastest growing markets in the world
Healthcare reforms, such as centralized health insurance/social security, leading to better and wider access to healthcare

Threats

Negative effect of government price controls/reimbursement lists on market attractiveness
The costs of modernization to potentially deter the harmonization of the domestic regulatory infrastructure and industry standards with international norms
Need to address the substantial deficit of the healthcare system