Turkey has wide experience and knowledge in veterinary medicine.
Therefore, major surgical operations on pet animals can be done safely in
Turkey and cheaper, compare to the United Kingdom. I believe that, if our
government invests funds to medical pet tourism and encourage entrepreneurs,
Turkey will become a significant medical pet tourism destination.
Looking into the background of veterinary education, it started in
Turkey with a Military Veterinary School in 1842. After that, newly founded Turkish
Republic (1923) opened a veterinary faculty in Ankara in 1933. It was a modern
veterinary school with all the necessary facilities and there were German
Professors among this faculty’s founders, because some scholars moved to Turkey
due to the political regime in Germany at that time.
This modern education is continuing today. Ankara Veterinary Faculty
gained accreditation from the EU in 2007. It means a vet from Ankara University
has a good education and can work in any EU country officially. There is major
equipment for procedures at the University such as an electron microscope, tomography,
sterile surgery rooms etc. Moreover, many professors have an international
background.
Turkish people keep pet animals at home. Especially in big cities, major
operations on dogs and cats are performed regularly either in vet faculties or
private clinics. These operations can be complex and need some experience,
knowledge and equipment. In addition to that, these major surgical operations
cost less compared to Europe, because the Turkish economy is not as strong as
developed countries in the EU. Some business people can expand this business to
international clients. The government should support these people and open some
centres to facilitate this type of tourism. The Ministry of International
Affairs may make some agreements with other countries about this issue.
I think veterinary medicine in Turkey now adheres to international
standards. If the government invests in this area, builds some centres, and
supports these centres, foreign people will be interested to come to Turkey for
medical pet tourism.
