Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Memorial Göztepe Hospital
Turkey, Istanbul
Dr. Ahmet Melih Ozel is a gastroenterologist at Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul. He specializes in inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic liver conditions. He performs upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies. Dr. Ozel also focuses on pancreatobiliary system diseases. He works at a clinic affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Dr. Zulfikar Polat is a professor of gastroenterology at Istanbul Aydın University. He previously practiced at Anadolu Medical Center, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Polat focuses on hepato-pancreatology and inflammatory intestinal diseases. He serves as an expert in both diagnostic and interventional endoscopic procedures.
Prof. Dr. Musa Aydınlı is an internal medicine specialist and gastroenterologist. He completed his MD at Hacettepe University in 1997. He finished internal medicine training in 2003 and gastroenterology training in 2007 at the same institution. He worked at Kayseri Training and Research Hospital from 2007 to 2009. He served in the Gastroenterology Department at Gaziantep University from 2009 to 2014. He became an associate professor in 2012 and a professor in 2020. He joined Gülhane Training and Research Hospital in 2022. He now practices at Private Koru Ankara Hospital.
Clinical focus: GERD; dyspepsia, gastritis, and Helicobacter pylori; peptic ulcer disease; celiac disease; IBS and IBD (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease); colon polyps; colorectal and upper GI cancers; liver disease (fatty liver, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, portal hypertension); hepatobiliary and pancreatic disorders and cancers. Procedures: EGD, rectosigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy; biopsy, polypectomy, and endoscopic mucosal resection; hemostasis and APC; dilation and stent placement; PEG; ERCP; EUS-guided biopsy.
Prof. Dr. İbrahim Doğan is a gastroenterologist. He earned his MD from Ankara University Faculty of Medicine in 1991. He became an Internal Medicine specialist at Gazi University in 1996. He completed gastroenterology subspecialty training at İnönü University in 2001.
His academic career was at Gazi University. He served as Lecturer (2002), Assistant Professor (2003), Associate Professor (2007), and Professor (2012). He worked as a researcher at the University of California San Diego from 2004 to 2006. He has practiced at Koru Hospital since January 2023.
Clinical focus includes gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gastroparesis, achalasia, bloating, gas and belching, fecal incontinence, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. He performs ERCP, stent placement, balloon and bougie dilation, polypectomy, argon plasma coagulation, double-balloon enteroscopy, and bleeding control.
There is currently no permanent cure for chronic hepatitis B in Turkey or globally. Medical centres in Turkey focus on viral suppression using oral antivirals like Tenofovir. These treatments prevent liver damage and cirrhosis. Clinical research units in Istanbul actively participate in global functional cure trials.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterologists at top-tier centres often hold memberships in European and American liver associations. Specialists such as Dr Zulfikar Polat maintain affiliations with institutions like Johns Hopkins Medicine. This means patients receive care that strictly aligns with the latest international hepatology protocols.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that the focus in Turkey is long-term viral suppression rather than a cure. Experience shows that infectious disease screening is strict, especially when patients seek other elective surgeries.
Chronic Hepatitis B treatment in Turkey focuses on long-term viral suppression. It uses high-potency oral antiviral medications. Specialists use Tenofovir or Entecavir to control infection and prevent liver scarring. Turkish gastroenterologists also use Fibroscan technology to assess liver health without invasive biopsies.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterologists often hold memberships in the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). Prof. Dr Zulfikar Polat at Anadolu Medical Center works in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine. These international links mean patients receive treatments that strictly follow the latest global clinical protocols.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that Hepatitis B requires long-term medication rather than a quick cure. Carrying translated viral load and ultrasound results to Turkey helps doctors start the correct treatment immediately.
Top Turkish centres for chronic hepatitis B treatment include Istanbul's Anadolu Medical Center and Medipol Bahçelievler University Hospital. These facilities provide diagnostics like FibroScan and viral load testing. Leading hepatologists there manage long-term antiviral therapy to prevent liver damage and cancer.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Anadolu Medical Center stands out. Its specialists, like Prof. Dr. Zulfikar Polat, have postgraduate experience with Johns Hopkins Medicine. This connection means treatment plans for complex viral hepatitis cases align with leading international protocols. Australian patients benefit from this expertise. They avoid the long specialist wait times often found at home.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that managing chronic HBV requires consistent medical supervision. It also requires approved antivirals like tenofovir or entecavir. Proper medical management in Turkey is essential. Chronic hepatitis remains a primary risk factor for liver cancer.
Hepatitis B medications are widely available in Turkey. Specialists prescribe oral nucleoside and nucleotide analogs like Tenofovir (Viread, Vemlidy) and Entecavir (Baraclude). Turkey uses these high-potency drugs to suppress the virus while minimising resistance. Treatment is managed by infectious disease or hepatology specialists.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Basic antivirals are accessible across Turkey. However, seeking treatment at clinics affiliated with major American institutions provides access to the latest international clinical research. Practitioners at these centres often hold certifications from both European and American liver research associations. This dual-registration provides a higher standard of care for complex or drug-resistant cases.
Patient Consensus: Patients recommend bringing detailed viral load history. They also advise bringing previous blood work to their first appointment in Turkey. They note that private hospitals provide efficient service for foreigners. However, costs for antivirals are generally paid out-of-pocket.
Patients typically stay in Turkey for 3 to 7 days. This stay covers the initial phase of chronic Hepatitis B treatment. This period covers gastroenterologist consultations, blood tests, and liver assessments like Fibroscan. Long-term antiviral therapy then continues in Australia under local GP supervision.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many Turkish hospitals focus on cosmetic surgery. However, choosing a centre with a dedicated hepatology unit is vital. Anadolu Medical Center is unique because it works in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine. This ensures patients receive treatment protocols that align with strict international clinical standards. These standards focus on long-term liver health.
Patient Consensus: Patients note Turkey is efficient for getting a fast diagnosis and starting medication. They emphasise finding a hepatologist who understands long-term suppression rather than just short-term fixes.
Australians can typically enter Turkey for medical treatment using a standard 90-day e-Visa. This permit covers consultations and surgeries. For chronic conditions like Hepatitis B needing longer stays, patients apply for a medical residence permit. The application is made after arrival. No specific medical visa exists for short stays.
Bookimed Expert Insight: General tourists often overlook documentation. However, specialists frequently review international clinical research data. For example, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Melih Ozel at Anadolu Medical Center does this. Patients should have their Australian medical records translated into English or Turkish. This helps avoid diagnostic delays during the initial 90-day e-Visa period.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that the standard e-Visa is sufficient for initial consultations in Turkey. They suggest bringing clear documentation of their diagnosis. This should be presented during hospital admissions and follow-ups.