Health care for all? Rethinking globalization and health inequalities in the Turkish context

Abstract

There is a group of people who stick out in the lobby of a private hospital in Istanbul. It is still early in the morning, so there are not many patients in the hospital. A few people in the lobby stare at this group of 15-20 people, solely young men, unshaven and unkempt, who stand together and look around rather timidly. Their appearance is in sharp contrast to the spacious lobby, which has shiny marble floors and comfortable sitting areas. They are guided by a young Turkish woman in a business suit who explains to them, in English, the details of the check-up they will have in a few minutes. Their out-of-place appearance seems to scare the men, too. This scene is repeated regularly in the major private hospitals of Istanbul, where I conducted my research on the globalization process in the Turkish health sector through the experiences of health care workers treating foreign patients. These young men are asylum seekers from various countries, and their guide is from one of the nongovernmental organizations that help them. They stand in sharp contrast to the medical tourists, who look wealthier and who are accompanied by friendly and helpful patient supervisors or translators.