Preventive Health Screening in Türkiye 2026

TURKIYE

TURKIYE

Active member
Staff member
Joined
Nov 23, 2025
Messages
182
Reaction score
1
Points
18

Preventive Health Screening in Türkiye 2026: ASM, KETEM and Healthy Living Centres​

Preventive screening can identify certain diseases or risk factors before symptoms appear. In Türkiye, family health centres, cancer screening centres and Healthy Living Centres offer several national programmes.

Tarama means screening. Tanı means diagnosis. Screening is usually for people without relevant symptoms; symptoms or an abnormal result require clinical assessment and, where appropriate, diagnostic tests. Do not wait for your next screening invitation if you have a concerning symptom.

1️⃣ Where screening is offered​

  • ASM — Aile Sağlığı Merkezi: Family Health Centre; a useful starting point for preventive assessment and programme referral.
  • KETEM — Kanser Erken Teşhis, Tarama ve Eğitim Merkezi: Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening and Education Centre.
  • SHM — Sağlıklı Hayat Merkezi: Healthy Living Centre; services vary locally.
  • Mobil KETEM: Mobile cancer screening services operating according to local programmes.
  • Hospitals: Further investigations and specialist assessment following symptoms or an abnormal screening result.
Start with your family doctor, who can assess your age, personal history and family history and explain the appropriate route.

2️⃣ National cancer screening programmes​

  • Breast cancer: Mammography every two years for women aged 40–69 under the national screening programme. The programme also includes an annual clinical breast examination; ask your clinician about the assessment appropriate to you.
  • Cervical cancer: HPV-DNA screening every five years for women aged 30–65.
  • Colorectal cancer: Faecal occult blood screening every two years for women and men aged 50–70. The programme also describes colonoscopy at ten-year intervals; the clinician determines the appropriate investigation and referral for an individual.
These are programme age groups and intervals, not instructions to postpone assessment of symptoms or ignore increased personal risk. See the Ministry’s KETEM screening information.

ServiceProviderNote
Primary careASMFollow-up and individual assessment
Organised cancer screeningKETEMAge-, sex- and criteria-specific
Preventive-health supportSHMServices depend on the centre
Clinician-requested investigationAppropriate providerCommercial test bundles do not replace medical follow-up

pexels-photo-4266942.jpeg

Discussing care during a medical consultation​

3️⃣ Are screening services free?​

The national programme provides eligible screening without a screening charge through designated ASM, KETEM, SHM and mobile services.

Foreign nationals should confirm the local centre’s registration and eligibility arrangements, including the foreign identity number, address and patient record required. Free programme screening does not establish that every subsequent hospital test or treatment is free; insurance entitlement and payment arrangements for follow-up are separate.

4️⃣ If a screening result is positive​

A positive result does not by itself mean that you have cancer. It means further assessment is needed. The service may contact you and arrange referral for imaging, endoscopy, biopsy or specialist examination, depending on the test and findings.

Respond to calls, attend the referral and keep the report. The final diagnosis comes from the appropriate clinical assessment. Do not dismiss a positive result or delay follow-up because you feel well.

5️⃣ Other preventive checks​

Depending on age, history and risk, primary care may include blood pressure and body mass index assessment, diabetes or blood lipid checks when indicated, smoking cessation advice, vaccination review, and pregnancy, childhood, adolescent or older-person follow-up.

Cardiovascular risk assessment is also useful for people with relevant risk factors. There is no single annual blood-test package that every person needs: ask the clinician which checks are appropriate for you.

Before bookingAsk about
EligibilityIdentity, address, category and age criteria
ServiceTest, scope and coverage
PreparationThe centre’s test-specific instructions
ResultAvailability and follow-up if referred

pexels-photo-8459996.jpeg

A healthcare waiting area​

6️⃣ Who may need earlier or different assessment?​

Tell your doctor about a family history of cancer, previous cancer or polyps, known genetic risks, abnormal bleeding, a new lump, unexplained weight loss, persistent bowel changes or unexplained anaemia.

Long-term smoking, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure may also change your preventive care needs. Symptoms require assessment as symptoms, rather than simply booking a routine screening test.

7️⃣ How to arrange screening​

  1. Check your assigned family doctor.
  2. Arrange an ASM consultation using the locally available booking route.
  3. Take your identity document, passport or foreign identity number, as applicable.
  4. Bring previous reports and note relevant family history.
  5. Ask which screening programmes suit your age and risk.
  6. Attend KETEM or a Healthy Living Centre if referred or eligible under the local programme.
  7. Keep your results; check e-Nabız where the service has transmitted the record.
  8. Complete any hospital or specialist referral after an abnormal finding.

8️⃣ Symptoms that should not wait for routine screening​

Seek medical assessment for a new lump, unexplained or unusual bleeding, blood in the stool, persistent changes in bowel habits, a prolonged cough or hoarseness, persistent swallowing difficulty, unexplained weight loss, a changing mole, or ongoing fatigue associated with suspected anaemia.

These symptoms do not always indicate cancer, but they should be assessed. The appropriate urgency depends on the symptom and its severity; serious acute illness requires urgent care.

9️⃣ Useful Turkish phrases​

  • Kanser taraması yaptırmak istiyorum. — I would like cancer screening.
  • Yaşıma uygun taramalar nelerdir? — Which screening tests are appropriate for my age?
  • En yakın KETEM nerede? — Where is the nearest KETEM?
  • Bu tarama ücretsiz mi? — Is this screening free?
  • Sonucum pozitif çıktı, ne yapmalıyım? — My result was positive; what should I do?
  • Hastaneye sevk edilecek miyim? — Will I be referred to hospital?

pexels-photo-5327584.jpeg

A routine medical examination​

🔗 Related topics​

​
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom