Holiday dialysis in Turkey: the complete guide

Can you have dialysis on holiday in Turkey?

Yes. Turkey has a large network of modern private dialysis centres licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health, and many of them welcome foreign holidaymakers every year. You keep your usual schedule, typically 3 sessions of 4 hours a week, and enjoy your trip between sessions.

Dialysis Turkey books your sessions in 53 partner centres across 19 provinces, including centres of Daviva Healthcare, one of the largest dialysis networks in the country. We choose the centre closest to your hotel, send your medical file and, if you wish, arrange your hotel and transfers.

How much does a dialysis session cost in Turkey?

A session costs between €200 and €350. The price depends on the city, the centre and the treatment: haemodiafiltration (HDF) costs a little more than standard haemodialysis. You receive a full quote before you book, and nothing is added on site except extra medical care agreed with you.

For a one-week stay with 3 sessions, count €600 to €1,050 for dialysis, plus transport and hotel if you book them with us.

Which city should you choose for dialysis in Turkey?

Choose your holiday destination first: we then find the closest partner centre. These are the most requested destinations.

We also cover Ankara, Samsun, Kayseri, Konya, Gaziantep, Manisa, Kocaeli, Aksaray, Ordu and Kahramanmaraş. The full list, with addresses and hotels nearby, is on our partner centres page.

Haemodialysis (HD) or haemodiafiltration (HDF)?

Both treatments are available. Standard haemodialysis (HD) suits most patients. Haemodiafiltration (HDF) also removes middle-sized molecules; if it is your usual treatment, say so in your request. The centre confirms HDF after reading your prescription.

Peritoneal dialysis is done at home and needs no centre, but you must arrange delivery of your bags to the hotel with your supplier before you leave.

Documents to send before you travel

• A recent dialysis report from your home centre
• Your dialysis prescription: duration, blood flow, dialyser, anticoagulation, dry weight
• Recent blood tests
• Recent hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV serology, as required by the centres
• A copy of your passport, which you also bring to every session

Ask your centre for these documents at least a month before you leave: centres usually require serology less than 3 months old. We send them to the centre confidentially.

Booking dialysis in Turkey in 4 steps

1. Send your request. Tell us the city, your dates, your type of dialysis and how many sessions a week, by form or on WhatsApp.
2. Receive your quote. We check availability and send you a full quote with no hidden costs.
3. Send your documents. We pass them to the centre, which approves your file.
4. Receive your confirmation. You get your session times, usually within 12 hours, then the hotel and transfer details.

Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead, and earlier for July, August and school holidays, when places for holiday patients go fastest.

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV: is it possible?

Yes, in many cases. Patients with hepatitis or HIV are treated on dedicated machines or in dedicated rooms, and not every centre has them. Tell us in your request: we check which centre can welcome you in your chosen city before sending your quote.

Insurance and reimbursement

Turkey is not in the European Union: the European (EHIC) and UK (GHIC) health insurance cards do not work there. Whether planned dialysis in Turkey is reimbursed depends on your insurer and your situation.

• Before you book, ask your health insurer whether it reimburses all or part of the sessions and which documents it needs.
• Keep every paid invoice: we provide detailed invoices for each session.
• Ask your private or top-up insurance too: some reimburse part of care abroad.
• Take travel insurance that covers medical care and repatriation, and check it does not exclude known kidney failure.

Tips for travelling on dialysis

• Before you leave: talk to your nephrologist about your trip and carry your medication list, with enough medicine for the whole stay, in your hand luggage.
• On the plane: avoid carrying bags or sleeping on your fistula arm, and walk a little on long flights.
• In the heat: Turkish summers are hot. Stick to your fluid limit despite the thirst: suck ice cubes, stay in the shade and weigh yourself if you can.
• At the table: summer fruits (melon, apricots, figs) and dried fruit are high in potassium, and Turkish dishes can be salty. Keep your usual rules.
• Planning: schedule excursions on non-dialysis days and keep a quiet afternoon after each session.

During your stay

The driver picks you up at the hotel and brings you back after each session. Partner centres follow emergency protocols and work with nearby hospitals. Your coordinator stays reachable on WhatsApp throughout your stay and handles a schedule change, a session to move or a medical question with the centre.

We use the method of Dialyse Tunisie, our service in Tunisia, with medical oversight from Dr Naoufel Bou Akez and Dr Samia Cherni, nephrologists. Meet the team.

Frequently asked questions