Dr. Sadettin ORHAN answers

The Question of the Day
Are interventional radiology procedures covered by healthcare insurance in Türkiye? (20.11.2023)
Q: Hi dear Dr. Orhan, are interventional radiology procedures covered by healthcare insurance in Türkiye? If these procedures are within the scope of reimbursement, can you provide information about the current pricing for the transactions? Rajab C.
A: Hi Dear Rajab, yes, interventional radiology (IR) procedures are covered by general healthcare insurance in Turkey. The Social Security Institution (SGK) pays for vascular and non-vascular interventional radiology procedures performed for insurer patients. Some payment prices of the SGK, according to 2023 prices, are as follows;
- Endovascular cerebral aneurysm treatment: 15.124 Turkish Liras.
- Transjugular Intrahepatic Porto-Systemic Shunt (TIPS): 9.629 Turkish Liras.
- Percutaneous biliary stent placement: 6.420 Turkish Liras.
- Percutaneous lymphocele treatment: 6.420 Turkish Liras.
- Vertebroplasty: 8.345 Turkish Liras.
Dr. Sadettin ORHAN
Labor and Social Security Expert
Is the in-vitro fertilization method included in the social insurance reimbursement list in Türkiye? (15.11.2023)
Q: Hello Dr. Orhan, is the in-vitro fertilization method included in the social insurance reimbursement list in Turkey? If so, what are the conditions? Freja M.
A: Hi Dear Freja. Yes, the in-vitro fertilization method is included in Turkey's social insurance reimbursement list. Up to three attempts of in-vitro fertilization are financed by the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK). However, some conditions are required for both the couples where the in vitro fertilization process will be performed and the hospital. The conditions for the insured women;
Dr. Sadettin ORHAN
Labor and Social Security Expert
Q: Hello Dr. Orhan, is the in-vitro fertilization method included in the social insurance reimbursement list in Turkey? If so, what are the conditions? Freja M.
A: Hi Dear Freja. Yes, the in-vitro fertilization method is included in Turkey's social insurance reimbursement list. Up to three attempts of in-vitro fertilization are financed by the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK). However, some conditions are required for both the couples where the in vitro fertilization process will be performed and the hospital. The conditions for the insured women;
- A medical board report has been issued stating that after the medical treatments, she cannot have children with normal medical methods and can only have children with assisted reproduction methods.
- Must be over 23 years of age and not older than 39.
- Documentation by the health boards of the health service provider contracted with the SGK that there has been no result from other treatment methods in the last three years.
- She has to be a universal health insurance holder or a dependent for at least five years and has 900 days of universal health insurance premium days.
Dr. Sadettin ORHAN
Labor and Social Security Expert
Do we have any obligations in terms of Turkish labor and social security law? (13.11.2023)
Q: Hi dear Orhan, we are a game-developer company headquartered in Sweden. We have employees from different countries of the world who we employ under remote working contracts. Some of our Turkey-origin engineers also serve us remotely. Apart from the wages we pay them, do we also have obligations in terms of Turkey-based labor and social security law? Ebba D.
A: Dear Ebba, in order for Turkish labor and social security law to be applied to your company, you must have a registered workplace in Türkiye. In other words, you must have an actual and physical workplace in Türkiye. However, your company employs workers only with a remote working model, without opening a workplace in Türkiye. Therefore, Turkish labor and social security law will not be applied to your company. In other words, you do not have any obligations arising from Turkish legislation for the engineers you employ remotely. However, if you wish, you can require these people to have optional insurance and cover the insurance premiums they must pay for this.
On the other hand, there is a bilateral social security agreement between Türkiye and Sweden. Thanks to this agreement, you can ensure the social security rights of the worker you employ remotely in accordance with Swedish legislation.
Dr. Sadettin ORHAN
Labor and Social Security Expert
Q: Hi dear Orhan, we are a game-developer company headquartered in Sweden. We have employees from different countries of the world who we employ under remote working contracts. Some of our Turkey-origin engineers also serve us remotely. Apart from the wages we pay them, do we also have obligations in terms of Turkey-based labor and social security law? Ebba D.
A: Dear Ebba, in order for Turkish labor and social security law to be applied to your company, you must have a registered workplace in Türkiye. In other words, you must have an actual and physical workplace in Türkiye. However, your company employs workers only with a remote working model, without opening a workplace in Türkiye. Therefore, Turkish labor and social security law will not be applied to your company. In other words, you do not have any obligations arising from Turkish legislation for the engineers you employ remotely. However, if you wish, you can require these people to have optional insurance and cover the insurance premiums they must pay for this.
On the other hand, there is a bilateral social security agreement between Türkiye and Sweden. Thanks to this agreement, you can ensure the social security rights of the worker you employ remotely in accordance with Swedish legislation.
Dr. Sadettin ORHAN
Labor and Social Security Expert
As İş ve Sosyal Güvenlik Atölyesi, we provide consultancy services to national and international companies in the field of Turkish labor and social security law. Turkish labor law, social insurance, payroll, healthcare law, healthcare tourism, pharmaceutical and medical device licensing and reimbursement systems are our main areas of expertise.