On the shores of the Marmara Sea, next to Istanbul, in Yalova — a city developing in its own calm yet confident rhythm — an important gateway to health tourism is emerging.
Aktif International Hospital goes beyond serving only the local population. It stands out as a modern healthcare center that welcomes patients from different parts of the world, distinguished by its advanced infrastructure, experienced medical staff, and multilingual approach to healthcare.
Here, the goal is not only to carry out a treatment process, but also to provide patients with fast access, trust, and a comfortable healthcare experience.
From the moment we stepped inside the hospital, we had the opportunity to observe traces of this philosophy at every level — from the management to the healthcare staff, from specialist doctors to the entire team. In the short interviews we conducted, we witnessed how professionalism and a friendly attitude come together under one roof.
Because in healthcare, trust is built not only through technology, but also through the human touch.
At Aktif International Hospital, we saw this with our own eyes: a strong team that stands by its patients with knowledge, experience, and sincerity.
Tarkan Ustunchelik: “In healthcare, the real issue is not treatment, but building trust.”
Yalova Aktif International Hospital has recently drawn attention not only as a regional healthcare institution, but also with its vision of international healthcare services. We spoke with Hospital Director Tarkan Ustunchelik about the institution’s transformation process and its goals.
Emphasizing that his long-standing international experience forms the foundation of today’s service approach, Ustunchelik stresses that healthcare cannot be limited to a single city: “Experience gained in different countries has shown us this: wherever people are, they expect the same things — trust, speed, and proper communication.”
The experience gained through projects spanning from Iraq to India, and from China to Africa and the Middle East has shaped their service models, Ustunchelik notes, particularly highlighting international collaborations in dentistry, plastic surgery, and general healthcare.
“Each country had a different healthcare dynamic, but the common point was always the same: the patient’s sense of safety. We built our system on this understanding.”
Stating that the Yalova-based structure has undergone a significant transformation in recent months, Ustunchelik says their goal is not rapid expansion, but the creation of a strong and sustainable system. “In the last six months, we have experienced a serious strengthening process in organizational terms. Today, we are no longer only Yalova-based; we have built an integrated healthcare network extending to Istanbul and Kocaeli.”
Ustunchelik notes that they provide services at five locations in total, including Center of Yalova and Chiftlikkoy, as well as Uskudar and Bahchelievler in Istanbul. He also states that they have reached a significant level in accepting international patients:
“At our international hospitals, we receive around 85–90 thousand patients annually. This is not just a number for us, but an indicator of the strength of the healthcare system we have built.”
Emphasizing that health tourism has become a strategically important field on a global scale in recent years, Ustunchelik highlights that it creates both healthcare and economic value.
“We receive a strong patient flow from Europe and the Middle East”
Speaking about the institution’s international patient profile, Ustunchelik notes that they receive particularly high demand from Europe and the Middle East:
“We are a healthcare group preferred by patients from European countries and the Middle East. We provide services to international patients in various medical fields, especially aesthetic surgery.”
Emphasizing that more than 20 years of industry experience plays a key role in patient trust, Ustunchelik states that their greatest achievement is making this trust sustainable.
“We have built long-term relationships not only with our patients but also with our staff. We have created a family-like structure with team members who have been working with us for years, as well as the patients who continue to choose us.”
“Being preferred is our greatest value”
Highlighting the importance of being a healthcare group preferred at the international level, Ustunchelik concludes his remarks as follows:
“Being preferred is the most valuable thing for us. Because it shows not only the quality of service, but also the sustainability of trust. We rebuild this trust every single day.”
It is clear that there is a significantly expanded healthcare structure in place; the fact that it extends from Yalova to Istanbul and Kocaeli clearly demonstrates this. The annual number of patients and employees also shows that this is not a small-scale organization. In particular, the arrival of patients from abroad suggests that the region is active in terms of health tourism. However, in such a large structure, the most important issue is maintaining the same level of service quality everywhere, frankly speaking. Overall, when looking at it, such a rapidly growing healthcare group essentially means more reliable and accessible healthcare services for people in that region.
Hospital Director Tarkan Ustunchelik, noting that they are in constant communication with patients from many different countries around the world, especially from Europe, emphasizes that their international healthcare experience provides them with an important comparative perspective. He states that when healthcare systems in different countries are examined, there are significant difficulties in access to treatment, particularly in Europe:
“In many European countries, patients have difficulty getting appointments, treatment processes can be prolonged, and they may experience access problems caused by insurance systems.”
Ustunchelik notes that this situation pushes people to seek healthcare services outside their own countries, and as a result, health tourism is growing rapidly:
“International health tourism emerges exactly from this need. Patients are forced to travel to different countries in order to receive faster and more accessible healthcare services.”
Türkiye has become a strong alternative in the field of health tourism, Ustunchelik states, emphasizing that patient-centered care and advanced healthcare infrastructure play a major role in this development:
“Turkey offers faster and more accessible services compared to many countries, thanks both to its human-centered approach and its strong healthcare infrastructure.”
Emphasizing that healthcare is not just an industry but a field that concerns the entire society, Ustunchelik highlights the importance of developing healthcare technologies in cities and districts.
Speaking about the relationship between the private sector and public institutions, Ustunchelik states that they should complement each other:
“As the private sector, we do not compete with the public system. We are part of a structure that works together with public hospitals, municipalities, and other healthcare institutions. In healthcare, what matters most is not competition, but a culture of collaboration.”
Tarkan Ustunchelik: “Yalova has significant potential in health tourism”
Emphasizing that Yalova is not only a place to live but also an important center with its natural richness and healthcare infrastructure, Ustunchelik states that the city has strong potential in health tourism: “Yalova is a very special city with its sea, nature, thermal resources, and advanced healthcare institutions. It is one of the cities that brings all these features together.”
Noting that the international patient potential is increasing every year, Ustunchelik says that Yalova can achieve a stronger position in this field: “We host our international patients here and, after completing their treatment processes, we send them back to their countries with satisfaction.”
Stating that patients are influenced not only by healthcare services but also by natural beauty of Yalova and quality of life, Ustunchelik emphasizes that the city’s values should be presented more strongly to the world: “We have many valuable assets, but we need to promote them better at the international level. If this potential is properly utilized, Yalova can reach a much stronger position in health tourism.”
Expressing that they place patient needs at the center of their approach, Ustunchelik underlines that trust in healthcare is built through technology, expert staff, and proper communication. He notes that they provide services with strong teams in various specialties and adds that they also support patients with an experienced team of physicians in oncology.
“Do you and your family choose your own institution when receiving healthcare services?”
At the end of the interview, we asked Hospital Director Tarkan Ustunchelik about his personal healthcare preferences and his family’s approach as a healthcare manager. We also asked him to reflect on how trust in healthcare is formed through his own experience. Ustunchelik responded with a smile:
“We definitely do. Because the matter is not limited only to our own healthcare group. There are many healthcare institutions in Turkey that provide high-quality services based on ethical values. People from different countries around the world also choose our country for healthcare services. In our own treatments and in our family’s healthcare needs, we primarily trust our own country. Because we believe in Turkey’s healthcare infrastructure, and in the knowledge and experience of our doctors.”
The value of a city is measured not only by its natural beauty but also by how it carries these values into the future. Yalova, with its sea, thermal springs, nature, and proximity to Istanbul, has strong potential. However, turning this potential into international value is possible not only through investments, but also through experience, skilled human resources, and a sense of trust.
What Tarkan Ustunchelik explains shows that healthcare is no longer just a treatment process; it has also become an important field that shapes the vision of cities. For international patients, leaving a city not only with medical care but also with trust and a positive experience creates an important opportunity for future of Yalova.
Today, the main issue is not only how many patients are reached, but how the trust that is built can be preserved over the years. Because in healthcare, the strongest reference is a patient who leaves satisfied and chooses the same door again.
Story of Yalova begins right here: a city that can combine its natural richness, healthcare infrastructure, and human resources has the potential to become a center that attracts attention not only in its region but also in the world.
https://voicepress.com.tr/tr/uluslararasi-saglik-hizmetlerinde-yeni-bir-durak-yalova.html
Author: Ulker Fermankızı
