Turkey’s Health Expenditures Surge Nearly 90% in 2024

Turkey’s healthcare system experienced a dramatic financial expansion in 2024, with nationwide health expenditures rising 89.6% year-on-year to reach 2 trillion 359 billion 151 million TL, according to newly released figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). This substantial increase reflects higher service usage, cost pressures, and ongoing investments in medical infrastructure.

The sharp rise was also evident at the individual level. Per capita health spending increased from 14,582 TL in 2023 to 27,587 TL in 2024, marking an 89.2% annual jump. When measured in US dollars, per-person expenditures rose from $621 to $840 —an increase of 35.3%—reflecting both higher domestic costs and shifting currency dynamics.

Public and Private Sectors Both Expand Their Healthcare Footprint

Major expansions in both public and private sector spending drove the country’s total health expenditure.

Public sector healthcare costs rose 86.1%, reaching 1 trillion 794 billion 227 million TL, while private sector spending surged even faster—up 101.8%—to 564 billion 924 million TL.

As a share of total national health expenditure:

• Public sector accounted for 76.1%

• Private sector represented 23.9%

A closer look at institutional contributions reveals an intricate funding structure. In 2024:

• Social Security Institution (SGK) held the largest share at 39.5%

• Central government followed with 36%

• Households accounted for 18.8%

• Insurance companies contributed 2.8%

• Non-profit organizations and other providers held 2.4%

• Local administrations supplied 0.6%

This distribution shows that while the state remains the primary financier, household out-of-pocket payments have become an increasingly significant element of total spending.

Investment and Operational Costs Continue Accelerating

Operational—or current—health spending surged 92.7%, reaching 2 trillion 186 billion 802 million TL in 2024. This category includes treatment costs, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic services, and a wide range of medical supplies.

At the same time, healthcare investment expenditures grew 57.6%, totaling 172 billion 349 million TL. These investments encompass hospital construction and modernization, technological infrastructure upgrades, and the expansion of medical equipment fleets.

Hospitals Remain the Core of Turkey’s Healthcare System

When evaluated by provider type, the distribution of healthcare expenditures shows a consistent pattern. Just as in previous years, hospitals were the primary recipients, holding 54.6% of all national health spending.
They were followed by:

• Retail sales and medical product suppliers with 19.6%

• Outpatient care providers with 11%

This structure reflects Turkey’s hospital-centric care model, where inpatient and specialist services capture the majority of financial flows.

Health Spending’s Share of the Economy Rises

Turkey’s expanding healthcare costs are also shaping the broader economy.
The ratio of total health expenditure to GDP climbed from 4.6% in 2023 to 5.3% in 2024, marking a noticeable increase in the sector’s economic footprint.

Meanwhile, current health spending accounted for 4.9% of GDP, up from 4.7% the previous year.