More than half of the households in Turkey reported that the cost of medical examinations and treatment had created at least some financial burden over the past year, according to official data.
The Turkish Statistical Institute’s (TurkStat) 2025 Health Module, which was released last week, conducted similar studies across Europe, measuring the health status of individuals aged 15 and over as well as the financial impact of healthcare expenses on households. The findings come as many households in Turkey struggle with the rising cost of living amid persistent inflation.
TurkStat said 6.1 percent of households described examination and treatment expenses as a “heavy” burden, while 50.2 percent said the costs were “somewhat burdensome.” No financial strain was reported by 40.9 percent.
Dental treatment created a heavy burden for 5.3 percent of households and a moderate burden for 37.2 percent, while expenses for medicine were described as extremely burdensome by 5.0 percent and moderately burdensome by 50.9 percent
Income levels also played a significant role in how households managed these costs. Among the lowest 20 percent income group, 62.9 percent reported a burden from examination and treatment expenses and 65.5 percent from medicine costs. In contrast, more than half of households in the highest income bracket, 53.0 percent, said examination and treatment expenses did not create a burden.
The survey also showed burdens in access to dental care. While 25.5 percent of households in the highest income bracket reported no spending on dental services in the past year, the figure rose to 45.4 percent among the lowest income group.
Overall, 2.7 percent of households reported no spending on examination and treatment services in the past 12 months, 28.6 percent reported no dental expenditures and 0.1 percent reported no spending on medicine.
Turkey has faced a prolonged cost-of-living crisis in recent years due to high inflation, which has eroded purchasing power and increased pressure on household budgets for essential expenses such as food, housing and healthcare.