gerald

This article might be of interest to some.

It seems that I cannot post links, so I have copied the extract

Alanya improves foreigners' health services
Tuesday, July 10, 2007


ALANYA - Turkish Daily News

Alanya municipality introduced a new service to its foreign residents last week that makes the use of state health care system easier. Instead of traveling to Antalya to apply for permission to use state hospital services in Alanya, patients can now process their paperwork at the Social Security Institution (SSK) office in the town center.

Abdullah Karaoğlu, member of city council and chairman of Alanya Tourism Commission, told the Turkish Daily News that the new system was put into place to make the use of state services easier for permanent residents.

�Before, when a foreign resident wanted to use the services of a state hospital, he first had to go to Antalya to get a paper confirming his right to use state hospitals,� said Karaoğlu. �Only after paper work was ready could the patient use free health services in Alanya.�

The practice was widely criticized by foreign residents of the town. The main complaint was traveling for almost two hours to Antalya when unwell was an unreasonable requirement.

At present, Alanya has a population of approximately 134,000. Around 10,000 of them are foreign. The arrangement posed problems particularly for the German population, many of whom are elderly and need regular medical care.

Karaoğlu said that the issue had been discussed on several occasions also at the Alanya Foreign Residents Committee, which consist of 22 representatives of different nationalities among them German, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Belgian and British. �We are happy to have solved the issue,� he said.

no-nem

I personally am not sure I would want to use a state hospital.

Harem

We've used the state hospital here in Fethiye and have found the service to be first class. Once was when my husband got bitten by a cat and the other time was when a friend was visiting and she fell and broke her wrist. No complaints about the hospital on either occasion - they certainly matched the private hospitals for service and cleanliness.

shirleyanntr

the devlet hospital in alanya is really good now...and im puzzled about the above article..
ive taken quite a few people up to the hospital for blood and eye tests etc..and they had first class very cheap service...with a Dr's consultation in the price..about 40lira for a lady who needed checking out before having various routine tests that she normally got in the uk...she had previously paid about 120 lira for the same thing in the Can hastane
recently a taxi driver friend of yusufs got knifed late one night..his abdomen was ripped and he had slashes on his throat..he was lucky a passing street dog made such a racket that the two guys ran off and someone investigated the noise ..to cut a long story short he was taken up to the Devlet hospital had a couple of units of blood İV antibiotics and his tummy repaired..we visited him in the ward..and during visiting time it was a free for all..people poured in...however when time was called a fierce looking nurse and her ''bouncer'' appeared and everybody vanished....our friend was up and about and discharged within 5 days..and had no after affects. the surgery was superb
once after a night out a car wheel ran over my foot..dont ask how..lucky the tarma was soft...we went up to the Devlet where i had an xray..and of course entertained the staff..hic hic..while waiting for the results..a good night out..bit black and blue the next day..but once again from what i can remember the service was jolly.

no-nem

Harem, the reason you found the state Hastane in Fethiye good was as you know, it has recently been completed and looks like the crowne plaza. no doubt very very up to date. However whilst working in Belek Antalya one of my guys had an accident. Took him to the state hospital at Serik which I could describe as.....if some effort was made it could be upgraded to 'minging'. Not for me thanks.

apollo too

Can I ask for clarification on my understanding of the situation. I heard about this recently but I was under the impression this is due to come in to force next year.

1. All expat residents with a 5 year visa can or soon will be entitled to use the State Hospitals .
What documentation will be required and will we have to apply for the SSK booklet of forms? "Saglik Karnesi"

2.Will we then be able to go to a private hospital and the state pay half. The same as is now done with the local people?

Finally. I have a " Saglik Karnesi" and my wife is therefore legally allowed to possess her own said documents. When she tried to use it she was treated like a criminal in Fethiye State Hospital and accused of theft, forgery and all sorts of crimes by the staff.

teresa

As a 5 year residency holder this is of course interesting. May I ask if you know where you heard this?

KayaKoyuOldBoy

Our son had a motorcycle accident a couple of years ago and he was taken straight to the Fethiye Devlet hospital. No questions about entitlement, length of residency visa or insurance etc.

Treatment there was excellent and when completed, the only payment required was for drugs to take home.

Germaine

anyone know what the Hospitals are like in Didim ?