SYRIAN PATIENTS FLOCK TO TURKEY AFTER REMOVAL OF VISA REQUIREMENTS

ANTALYA (A.A) – 21.10.2010 - There has been a big rise in the number of Syrian patients coming to Turkey for treatment after a decision by the two countries to lift visa requirements, a senior Turkish health official said on Thursday.
"We have recorded a boom in the number of Syrian patients, especially in Gaziantep, Adana and Hatay [provinces near the border]," said Nihat Tosun, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health.
In September 2009, Turkey and Syria announced joint decision to end visa requirements.
Tosun did not elaborate on statistics, however he said, "the number is really big."
"We have expanded our investments in hospitals in these provinces considering the rising number of foreign patients," Tosun said.
"We have decided to double the number of beds for planned hospitals," he added.