What is the cost of multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey?
The cost of multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey ranges from £2,600 to £5,600. The price depends on the treatment chosen, the length of hospital stay, the cost of medication and the facility. In the UK, MS care is handled through the NHS rather than billed as a private package.
| Multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey | £2,600 - £5,600 |
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is linked to a faulty immune system. The disease causes significant damage to the central nervous system. Its cause remains unknown for now. But the symptoms are fairly serious. Complications can develop over time.
People with MS need access to better quality medical care. There is no treatment that offers a total cure. Doctors often treat the symptoms. They also aim to space out relapses and improve patients’ quality of life.
No published outcome data is specific to multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey, particularly for stem cell transplantation. The country has invested heavily in developing medical research. That is why international patients travel there for care.
What is multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey?
Understanding multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is characterised by a fault in the immune system. It attacks the brain and spinal cord. For no apparent reason, it creates an inflammatory process that destroys myelin. For reference, this sheath surrounding nerve fibres ensures the transmission of messages between organs and the nervous system.
MS is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 34. In 2022, women accounted for 72% of people treated for MS in France[1]. The first symptom usually appears suddenly. It varies depending on the area of the brain and spinal cord affected. In general, the patient develops:
- A visual disturbance,
- Sensory problems,
- A cognitive problem,
- Fatigue,
- Urinary problems.
The symptoms of a relapse can fade quickly. But they can also persist for days or weeks. Each new MS relapse often brings new symptoms. These include:
- Severe headaches,
- Hearing loss,
- Breathing problems,
- Vascular disorders,
- Anxiety,
- Depression.
Read our guides on lung cancer treatment, prostate cancer treatment and brain tumour treatment in Turkey.
MS treatment in Turkey
The course of MS depends on its form, relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive or primary progressive, and on its activity[2]. The primary progressive form affects 10 to 15% of patients[3]. But disease progression can also be rapid. The patient quickly develops disabling symptoms.
Scientific advances have improved multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey. Disease-modifying therapies aim to reduce the frequency of relapses, lessen lasting damage and therefore slow the progression of disability[4]. Ocrelizumab, for example, lowers the annualised relapse rate from 0.29 to 0.16 compared with interferon beta-1a[5].
Who is multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey for?
Not all patients need the same multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey: it depends on the form and activity of the disease[2]. The neurologist identifies the treatment that suits a patient, according to their age and the symptoms present.
Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is aimed first at highly active relapsing-remitting forms that have failed to respond to disease-modifying therapies[6]. In the MIST trial, patients needed at least two relapses on treatment within the year and an EDSS disability score of 2.0 to 6.0[7].
How does multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey work?
Preparation
Multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey always begins with a diagnosis. The care of people with MS falls within the specialty of a neurology expert. A patient making the medical trip to Turkey must therefore see a neurologist. This specialist starts a complex diagnostic process. It includes:
- An initial interview to identify the first signs and possible triggers,
- A clinical examination to identify problems linked to the MS relapse,
- A neurological examination to assess various functions such as coordination, movement, sense of balance, and so on,
- Instrumental tests including MRI, blood tests and evoked potentials.
Treatment
The neurology specialist draws up a treatment plan based on the diagnosis. The person with MS therefore receives personalised care. Regarding the approaches adopted, there is first of all drug treatment aimed at:
- Lowering the relapse rate,
- Limiting disease progression,
- Reducing the risk of brain atrophy,
- Avoiding severe disability.
Drug treatment for multiple sclerosis combines immunomodulators and immunosuppressants[4]. The drugs are injectable, infused or oral and contain powerful active substances.
Sometimes a team of haematologists and neurologists offers, in an accredited transplant centre, a specific treatment known as autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation[6]. Its purpose is to correct the malfunction of the immune system.
The stem cells are collected from the patient. Conditioning chemotherapy first destroys the immune system, which the reinfused cells then rebuild; the transplant replaces neither neurons nor the myelin sheath[6]. Its procedure-related mortality is estimated at 1.34% across 732 patients, and at 3.13% with high-intensity conditioning[8].
Umbilical cord cells or mesenchymal stem cells offered by some clinics are a different approach. In the MESEMS trial, across 144 patients, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells did not reduce active lesions compared with placebo[9].
In October 2025, the ANSM suspended in France the advertising of a stem cell and exosome therapy presented among other things as a treatment for MS, without marketing authorisation[10].
Specialists may also rely on alternative therapies to improve the quality of life of the person with MS, such as:
- Ayurvedic treatment originating in India,
- Physiotherapy,
- Moderate physical activity such as yoga or Tai Chi,
- Occupational therapy,
- Speech and language therapy.
Recovery
If the doctor has chosen stem cell transplantation, the patient must stay in hospital. They need closer medical monitoring and various medical treatments.
Why choose multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey?
There is growing demand for multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey. The country has appealed to patients with its technological advances in the medical field. It has several hospitals offering multiple sclerosis treatment. They are located in the main cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir. These facilities have a comprehensive neurology department. The department is made up of:
- Psychologists,
- Neurologists,
- General practitioners,
- Nurses,
- Specialists in alternative treatments such as a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist or a rehabilitation expert.
Patient reviews of multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey should be read with caution: they do not replace published data on the effectiveness and risks of treatments.
What is the cost of multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey?
The price of multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey varies according to:
- The therapy chosen,
- The reputation of the hospital,
- Transport and accommodation costs,
- Medical fees, and so on.
People with multiple sclerosis can use a travel agency specialising in medical tourism in Turkey. They may then benefit from a package covering the cost of the stay and the treatment fees.
Frequently asked questions about multiple sclerosis
Does multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey hurt?
Disease-modifying therapies are taken as tablets, injections or infusions, each with its own side effects. Stem cell transplantation requires chemotherapy and hospitalisation; 34% of transplant recipients have delayed complications, mostly infections[11].
What is the success rate of the treatment?
No success rate is published for Turkey. In the MIST trial, across 110 highly selected patients, the disease progressed in 3 transplant recipients versus 34 on disease-modifying therapy[7]. Transplant-related mortality is estimated at 1.34%[8].
What is the minimum length of stay in Turkey for multiple sclerosis treatment?
The length of stay depends on the treatment chosen. A neurological assessment requires consultations and tests. A stem cell transplant requires prolonged hospitalisation and monitoring: no duration can be given before the medical team has assessed the case.
What is the risk of multiple sclerosis treatment in Turkey?
The risk depends on the treatment, not the country. Each disease-modifying therapy has its own side effects. Transplantation carries a procedure-related mortality of 1.34%, and 3.13% with high-intensity conditioning[8], as well as infections.
Which is the best country for MS treatment?
No study ranks countries for MS. Transplantation is performed in accredited centres, with haematologists and neurologists; in France, each indication is validated at a national MATHEC review meeting[12]. The centre matters more than the country.
Can I get MS treatment in Turkey on the NHS?
Planned treatment abroad is not routinely funded by the NHS, and any request must be assessed individually. It is worth checking with the NHS what your own situation allows before committing. See our guide to medical tourism in Turkey.
How do you say multiple sclerosis in Turkish?
In Turkish, multiple sclerosis is called « multipl skleroz », often shortened to « MS ». This is the term that appears on an MRI report, a prescription or a Turkish hospital quote, documents that should be translated before any treatment decision.
Sources & References
- Assurance Maladie. Comprendre la sclérose en plaques. ameli.fr. 2025. View the source
- Lublin FD, Reingold SC, Cohen JA, et al. Defining the clinical course of multiple sclerosis : the 2013 revisions. Neurology. 2014. View the source
- Siger M. Magnetic resonance imaging in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients : review. Clinical Neuroradiology. 2022. View the source
- Assurance Maladie. Traitement de la sclérose en plaques. ameli.fr. 2025. View the source
- Hauser SL, Bar-Or A, Comi G, et al. Ocrelizumab versus interferon beta-1a in relapsing multiple sclerosis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2017. View the source
- Sharrack B, Saccardi R, Alexander T, et al. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and other cellular therapy in multiple sclerosis and immune-mediated neurological diseases : updated guidelines and recommendations from the EBMT. Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2020. View the source
- Burt RK, Balabanov R, Burman J, et al. Effect of nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation vs continued disease-modifying therapy on disease progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis : a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2019. View the source
- Ge F, Lin H, Li Z, Chang T. Efficacy and safety of autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis : a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurological Sciences. 2019. View the source
- Uccelli A, Laroni A, Ali R, et al. Safety, tolerability, and activity of mesenchymal stem cells versus placebo in multiple sclerosis (MESEMS) : a phase 2, randomised, double-blind crossover trial. The Lancet Neurology. 2021. View the source
- Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé. Décision du 17/10/2025 portant suspension de la publicité de la thérapie par cellules souches et exosomes. 2025. View the source
- Kalincik T, Sharmin S, Roos I, et al. Haematopoietic stem cell transplant versus immune-reconstitution therapy in relapsing multiple sclerosis. Brain. 2026. View the source
- Farge D, Pugnet G, Allez M, et al. French protocol for the diagnosis and management of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in autoimmune diseases. La Revue de médecine interne. 2024. View the source
- Assurance Maladie. Soins programmés à l’étranger : votre prise en charge. ameli.fr. 2026. View the source
