Patients from Libya: urological surgery in Istanbul
Many patients from Libya arrive after a long wait or after treatment that was started but not completed. This page explains how we plan for that.
About 3.5–4.5 hours on a direct flight
Flights to Istanbul are available from Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi, although the schedules change more often than most. Please confirm your flight with the airline before an operation date is set, and allow an extra day when booking.
The medical consultation is held in Arabic, with an interpreter arranged ahead of the appointment. Written correspondence is in English with the international patient coordinator.
Payment is usually settled in euros or US dollars. Because international transfers from Libya can be delayed, it is better to start the financial arrangement early rather than leave it to the day of admission.
Visa
Visa rules vary with the type of passport and are updated from time to time. Because wrong information could leave you stranded at the airport, we do not state the rule here; check your own position with the official source.
Cases that arrive late
Many patients from Libya arrive after a long wait, or after treatment that was begun and never finished. That changes the priority: before discussing an operation we need to know what has happened to the kidney or the bladder during the wait. For that reason the assessment here begins with imaging and kidney function tests, not with booking a surgical date.
If you have had an operation before
A second operation is not a repeat of the first. Scar tissue changes the anatomy and the risk of complications differs. Bring the report of your previous operation if you can — and if it is not available, at least tell us the hospital, the date and the type of incision. That information genuinely changes the surgical plan.
A typical length of stay
A stay of seven to ten days is usually planned, longer than for patients from neighbouring countries. The reason is logistical rather than medical: with flights further apart, extending a stay by a day is easier than bringing the return forward. The plan covers the assessment day, the operation, the observation period and a check-up before you fly.
Follow-up after you return
Follow-up is done remotely, with test results and images sent in. We write in the report what should be monitored and when, so that your doctor in Libya can carry on without coming back to us at every step. If there is a warning sign to watch for, the report states it plainly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa?
We do not state visa rules here because they change and vary with the type of passport. Check your own position on the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the e-visa site before buying a ticket.
What if my flight is delayed and I miss the operation date?
Tell us as soon as you know about the delay. Rescheduling is usually possible, but it is far easier before the day of surgery than afterwards. That is why we advise allowing an extra day when booking.
Can an official medical report be prepared for an embassy or an employer?
Yes. Tell us exactly what the organisation requires before you are discharged, because preparing the report after you have left is harder.
Let us review your file
If you have test results, imaging or a pathology report, share them in advance and avoid having investigations repeated unnecessarily.
Back to the international patients page: ME Urology Clinic