Berk Bozkurt outlines Medicana Health Group’s Nigeria strategy and its end-to-end care model for African patients

Medicana Health Group, one of Türkiye’s leading health institutions, is sharpening its focus on Nigeria as part of a wider international patient strategy built around advanced treatment, coordinated care and long-term trust. For Medicana Board Member Berk Bozkurt, who is closely involved in Medicana’s international patient operations, Nigeria is not simply another healthcare tourism market. It is a strategic region where patients increasingly expect medical excellence to be matched by guidance, transparency and continued support.

“For us, Nigeria is not merely a target market; it is a region of long-term strategic importance,” Bozkurt says.

Bozkurt states that Medicana’s proposition to Nigerian patients begins with a simple observation: patients travelling abroad for treatment are not only choosing a hospital or a physician. They are choosing an institution they can trust at every stage of a difficult and often emotional journey.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important as African patients, and Nigerian patients in particular, weigh treatment options abroad. According to Bozkurt, the market has moved beyond a narrow search for a “good hospital” and toward a broader expectation of partnership.

“Patients are looking for a healthcare partner they can trust and feel supported by throughout the entire journey,” he says.

Medicana’s answer, Bozkurt explains, is an international patient system designed to manage the process before, during and after treatment in Türkiye. The group coordinates the patient’s first contact, medical evaluation, second opinion, physician planning, cost information, accommodation arrangements and follow-up through its international patient departments.

This structure is especially relevant for Nigerian patients, for whom travelling abroad for treatment can involve clinical, financial and logistical decisions at the same time. Visa support letters, travel planning, companion arrangements and post-treatment communication are all part of the wider patient experience.

“We do not merely provide treatment. We offer a structure that plans, manages and supports the patient’s entire journey,” Bozkurt says.

Bozkurt says Nigerian patients value speed, expertise and accessibility, but also wscenarios.

ant clarity before committing to treatment abroad. Medicana therefore places strong emphasis on transparent communication around treatment timelines, procedure details, cost expectations and possible clinical For Bozkurt, the hospital experience cannot be reduced to the few days a patient spends inside a medical facility. The relationship begins when the patient first reaches out and continues after the patient returns home. That continuity, he says, is what converts a medical service into a sustainable relationship.

The clinical areas drawing attention from Nigeria include orthopedics, oncology, gynecologic oncology and cardiovascular care. Bozkurt says demand for comprehensive and technology-supported treatment is rising in Nigeria, particularly in complex cancer cases, advanced orthopedic surgeries and heart disease.

In oncology, Medicana uses a multidisciplinary model in which medical oncology, surgery, radiology, pathology and radiation oncology teams work together through tumor boards. The aim is to bring the relevant expertise into a single treatment-planning process rather than leaving patients to navigate different specialties independently.

“Especially in cancer treatment, bringing the right specialties together around the same table has a significant impact on treatment success,” Bozkurt says.

In orthopedics, Medicana highlights robotic-assisted joint surgeries, sports surgery and advanced reconstructive procedures. In cardiovascular care, Bozkurt points to interventional cardiology, advanced cardiac surgery and hybrid approaches for complex cases. In gynecologic oncology, the group supports female patients from early diagnosis through advanced surgical planning.

A central message in Bozkurt’s explanation is that international patients need coordination as much as clinical quality. For patients coming from Nigeria, a well-managed process can reduce uncertainty and prevent them from feeling lost between departments, specialties or administrative steps.

Technology is another element of Medicana’s positioning. Bozkurt says international patients increasingly evaluate not only the physician’s credentials, but also the technology available to support diagnosis, surgery and follow-up. For Medicana, investments in robotic surgery, advanced imaging systems, AI-supported diagnostic processes and digital patient follow-up are framed as tools for safety and predictability rather than as stand-alone equipment upgrades.

“Technology never replaces the physician, but the right technology makes sound medical practice much stronger,” Bozkurt says.

He says robotic surgery can support more precise operations, reduce the risk of complications and help patients return to daily life more quickly. This matters for international patients because recovery takes place in the context of travel, accommodation, family support and the need to return home safely.

Bozkurt also places strong emphasis on the role of companions. For many Nigerian patients, family members are closely involved in the decision-making and recovery process. Medicana, he says, sees the companion not as an external visitor but as part of the patient’s journey, because emotional and practical support can influence the overall experience.

Post-treatment communication is equally important. Bozkurt says the ability to contact a physician or the international patient team after returning to Nigeria strengthens confidence and helps patients feel that the relationship has not ended when they leave Türkiye.

This long-term approach is also reflected in how Medicana measures success. Bozkurt says one of the clearest indicators of trust is when satisfied patients refer relatives, friends or members of their communities to the group.

“We consider building lasting relationships and sustainable trust to be more valuable than short-term patient numbers,” he says.

As Medicana deepens its engagement with Nigeria, Bozkurt’s message is that healthcare tourism must be treated as a structured patient journey rather than a one-off service. For Nigerian patients seeking treatment in Türkiye, he says the decisive factor is the combination of medical quality, operational clarity and human support.

In Bozkurt’s view, this is where Medicana aims to differentiate itself: by offering not only advanced treatment, but also a reliable system that supports patients and their families before they travel, throughout their treatment and after they return home.