Turkey occupies an important position in the global medical tourism market, especially in the field of assisted reproduction, which attracts a large number of international patients due to its open policy, cost-effective and convenient services; while China has formed a unique advantage in the accumulation of assisted reproduction technology, cost control and industry chain integrity. The following is a comparative analysis of the “technology + cost” advantages of the two countries in four dimensions: technical strength, cost structure, policy environment and service experience:
I、Assisted Reproductive Technology: China's top level is on par with international standards, while Turkey focuses on service flexibility
1. Technology maturity and success rate
China's assisted reproductive technology (ART) has reached the first echelon of international standards, especially in the fields of third-generation in vitro fertilization (PGT), egg/sperm freezing, and microsperm extraction (for azoospermia).
- Performance of top institutions: Clinical pregnancy rates (for women under 35 years of age) in headline fertility centers such as the Third Hospital of Peking University, CITIC Xiangya Specialized Hospital for Reproduction and Genetics, and Shanghai Renji Hospital are generally over 50%, and the success rate of blastocyst transfer in some centers can reach 60% or more, which is on a par with that of top U.S. institutions (e.g., Cedars-Sinai in California).
- Technological innovation: China has continued to make breakthroughs in cutting-edge fields such as real-time embryo monitoring (Time-lapse), single-cell sequencing (for PGT), and stem cell assisted reproduction, and some of the technologies (e.g., vitrification freezing) have already been substitutes for localization, reducing dependence on imported equipment.
Turkey's assisted reproduction technology is dominated by conventional IVF (first-generation) and ICSI (second-generation), and the success rate of head institutions (e.g., certain private hospitals in Istanbul) is about 40%-50% (under 35 years old), which is slightly lower than that of China's top centers, but higher than that of most countries in Southeast Asia. Its strength lies in the legality of surrogacy services - Turkey is one of the few countries in the world that allows commercial surrogacy (legislation in 2010) and has less stringent age and health requirements for surrogate mothers (e.g., allowing participation of women under the age of 35), attracting patients due to the fact that surrogacy is prohibited in their home countries (e.g., Germany, France, Israel).
2. Legal and technological suitability
China follows strict regulations in the field of assisted reproduction:
- Legal scope: only allowed to provide assisted reproduction services to married couples (three certificates: marriage certificate, ID card, and birth certificate); surrogacy and sex selection (except for medically necessary genetic disease screening) are prohibited.
- Technology focus: focusing on the development of PGT (pre-implantation genetic testing) to address the high incidence of local needs such as advanced age, recurrent miscarriages, and single-gene genetic diseases (e.g., thalassemia, spinal muscular atrophy), and the application of technology is more in line with the pain points of local patients.
Turkey, on the other hand, attracts a specific clientele through liberal laws:
- Allowing international patients to utilize surrogacy services (for a fee of approximately $50,000-$80,000, including surrogate mother's compensation and medical expenses).
- There are less restrictions on assisted reproduction for single women and same-sex couples (sperm/egg donation is available in some private hospitals).
II、Cost structure: China's cost-effectiveness is significantly better than Turkey's, covering the whole process of services
1. Comparison of assisted reproduction costs for a single cycle
Advantage of China: single-cycle cost is only 1/3-1/2 of that of the US and 1/2-2/3 of that of Turkey (the difference is more obvious in three generations). The core reason is:
- Low cost of drugs: the price of domestic ovulation stimulation drugs (such as generic Nafen) is only 1/3-1/2 of imported drugs;.
- Low labor and service cost: the labor cost of doctors' consultation and laboratory operation is significantly lower than that of developed countries.
- Concentration of the industrial chain: the localization rate of assisted reproduction instruments (such as incubators and embryo monitoring equipment) is over 70%, which reduces the procurement cost.
Turkey's advantage lies in the surrogacy package service: the total cost including surrogate mother's compensation and medical expenses is about $80,000 to $120,000, which is lower than that of the United States ($150,000 to $250,000) and Europe ($100,000 to $180,000), but it needs to bear the legal risks (e.g., disputes over the rights of surrogate mothers).
2. Hidden costs and accessibility
Chinese patients do not need the extra cost of cross-border medical treatment (e.g. visa, air ticket, accommodation), and the domestic reproductive centers are widely distributed (tertiary hospitals cover all provinces), so accessibility is high. Although Turkey is geographically close to Europe and the Middle East, international patients have to bear hidden costs such as cross-border transportation, language translation (some hospitals provide English language services but still need intermediaries), and cultural adaptation.
III、Policy and Market Demand: China Focuses on Local Demand, Turkey Targets International Clients
1. Policy orientation
China's assisted reproduction license approval is strict (only 557 institutions are qualified), but the policy is gradually tilted towards “optimizing services”:
- In 2023, some provinces will pilot the inclusion of assisted reproduction in medical insurance (e.g., Beijing, Guangdong), reducing the burden on local patients.
- Encourage technological upgrading (e.g. support for PGT, stem cell research) to promote high-end development of the industry.
Turkey, on the other hand, has positioned medical tourism as a national strategy, attracting foreign-funded hospitals through tax incentives and international accreditation (e.g., JCI accreditation), and focusing on the promotion of “cost-effective + special services” (e.g., surrogacy, gender reassignment surgery).
2. Differences in target groups
China's assisted reproduction patients are mainly local elderly, infertile couples (accounting for more than 90%), the demand is focused on solving fertility problems; Turkey attracts international surrogacy demand (such as the Middle East tycoons, European same-sex couples), the pursuit of low-cost conventional IVF patients (such as Eastern Europe, North Africa).
IV、Summary: China's “technology + cost” advantage is more sustainable, while Turkey relies on specialized services
China's core competitiveness in the field of assisted reproduction lies in the dual advantages of technological strength and cost efficiency: the technological level of top institutions is on a par with that of the international top level, and the cost of the whole cycle is only 1/3-1/2 of that of developed countries, and the industry chain is complete and the services are convenient, and it is expected to expand its influence in the future through the export of technology (e.g., Southeast Asian market).
Turkey's advantage depends on the policy relaxation (surrogacy) and geographic location, but there is a gap between the conventional IVF technology and China, and the legal risk of surrogacy business may be weakened with the tightening of international regulation (e.g., many countries in the European Union prohibit citizens from participating in surrogacy).
CONCLUSION: China is a more cost-effective option for mainstream fertility demand groups seeking technical reliability and avoidance of legal risks; while Turkey is more suitable for international patients with specific needs (e.g., surrogacy).