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. 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.
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.
Turkish clinics report a Hepatitis C cure rate between 95% and 99%. This high success reflects a sustained virological response (SVR12). It means the virus is undetectable 12 weeks after finishing treatment. Leading specialists use modern Direct-Acting Antiviral oral medications, including sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, and velpatasvir.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterologists often hold dual specialisations in internal medicine and hepatology. They have trained at major military medical academies. Dr Ibrahim Dogan and Dr Musa Aydinli, for example, have reached professor status. This deep academic background means they handle complex genotype variations. Smaller clinics might struggle to treat these effectively.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that modern treatments like Mavyret are much easier to tolerate than older therapies. Most report virtually no side effects and successful results. This is achieved when the clinic confirms their specific genotype first.
Turkish specialists treat Hepatitis C using interferon-free oral medications. Doctors primarily prescribe direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) such as Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir. These pan-genotypic regimens cure over 95% of cases. Specialists in Istanbul and Ankara manage treatment protocols in tertiary reference hospitals.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Leading Turkish gastroenterologists often hold memberships in the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Dr Zulfikar Polat is one such specialist. This helps them align local care with global standards. Turkish citizens receive DAA medications through government insurance. International patients, however, can access these same standard-of-care treatments privately at major hubs like Anadolu Medical Center. This hospital is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey find the modern pill-a-day regimen significantly easier than older treatments. They recommend bringing previous lab results and treatment history. This helps specialists determine the best clinical approach quickly.
Turkey offers specialised Hepatitis C care at JCI-accredited centres like Anadolu Medical Center and Memorial Health Group. These hospitals provide direct-acting antiviral therapies and non-invasive diagnostics like FibroScan. Specialists here focus on viral clearance and managing liver fibrosis using international hepatology protocols.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Anadolu Medical Center stands out for Australian patients due to its affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine. The hospital employs specialists like Prof. Dr. Ahmet Melih Ozel and Prof. Dr. Zulfikar Polat. Both hold memberships in the European Association for the Study of the Liver. This means patients receive treatment aligned with global standards for direct-acting antivirals.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey suggest choosing major tertiary hospitals with dedicated hepatology teams rather than smaller clinics. They note that modern treatment typically involves 8–12 weeks of oral tablets. This makes specialist-led outpatient care and baseline testing essential for success.
Patients require a specific blood-test workup before starting Hepatitis C treatment in Turkey. Specialists use quantitative PCR tests and genotyping to confirm active infection and select medication. Liver staging through FibroScan ensures the treatment plan matches the level of liver scarring.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish gastroenterology professors, such as Dr Ahmet Melih Ozel and Dr Zulfikar Polat, often hold memberships in both the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. This dual alignment means they follow international protocols that prioritise non-invasive FibroScan technology over traditional biopsies. Patients should check if their clinic includes a FibroScan assessment. This modern tool is the standard for staging liver damage without surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that bringing prior PCR and antibody results helps avoid repeating expensive tests in Turkey. Most find that private hospitals offer efficient health screenings that bundle all necessary liver function and immunity markers together.