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Poland vs Turkey for a Hip or Knee Replacement: Price, Distance and Rules Compared (2026)
A knee replacement costs €8,620 (about £7,420) at OrthoVoyage's partner hospital in Poland and $6,000 to $10,300 on marketplace listings for Turkey; a hip replacement costs €6,940 (about £5,970) in Poland and $7,000 to $14,000 in Turkey. Turkey is not reliably cheaper, and Poland is closer and inside the EU: about two hours by air against about four, with EU rules that do not apply in Turkey.
Key facts
- Knee replacement: €8,620 (about £7,420) at OrthoVoyage's partner hospital in Poland against $6,000–$10,300 on marketplace listings for Turkey (seen 7 October 2026).
- Hip replacement: €6,940 (about £5,970) in Poland against $7,000–$14,000 in Turkey.
- London to Wrocław is about two hours by direct flight; London to Istanbul about four.
- Poland is an EU member state; the GHIC and EHIC are not valid in Turkey (GOV.UK).
- Residents of Great Britain made an estimated 196,000 visits to Turkey and 64,000 to Poland for medical treatment of all kinds in 2024 (Office for National Statistics).
Checked 8 October 2026
Line by line
| Poland (OrthoVoyage partner hospital) | Turkey (marketplace listings) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | €8,620, about £7,420 | $6,000 – $10,300 |
| Total hip replacement | €6,940, about £5,970 | $7,000 – $14,000 |
| Where the price comes from | the hospital's own list price | marketplace listings; no hospital price list found |
| Usually bundled | three hospital days, up to seven physiotherapy sessions | hospital nights, hotel, transfers; contents vary |
| Flight from London | about two hours | about four hours |
| EU member state | yes | no |
| GHIC for unrelated emergencies | valid for state healthcare | not valid |
| GB residents' medical visits, 2024 | 64,000 | 196,000 |
Turkish figures seen 7 October 2026. Prices are in different currencies, so compare written quotes on the same day.
What the difference means in practice
The flight home. GOV.UK warns that air travel after major surgery increases the risk of a blood clot. A four-hour flight is twice as long in a seat as a two-hour one, soon after an operation on your leg. Your surgeon decides when you can fly in either case.
The rules you are under. Poland is an EU member state, with EU rules on medical devices and patient rights. Turkey is outside the EU; the Foreign Office points patients to the Turkish Ministry of Health's list of approved providers and says it is aware of 7 British nationals having died in Turkey in 2025 following medical procedures of all kinds.
What you are buying. Turkish packages often include a hotel and transfers, which makes the headline look complete, but the contents differ between listings. The Polish figure is a list price with stated contents; flights and hotel are added separately.
Going back. If you need a follow-up visit, a two-hour flight is easier to repeat than a four-hour one.
Whichever you choose, check the hospital, the surgeon and the implant in writing before you pay, and tell your GP. Before you pay a deposit anywhere, get a Polish quote to set beside it — the assessment is free and takes a minute.
OrthoVoyage is a medical travel concierge, not a hospital, and does not give medical advice. We arrange surgery in Poland; the Turkish figures here are published listings we do not control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turkey cheaper than Poland for a knee replacement?
Not reliably. Marketplace listings for Turkey run from $6,000 to $10,300 with contents that vary, and no hospital price list stands behind them. The Polish price of €8,620, about £7,420, is the hospital's own list price with stated contents.
Which is closer to the UK?
Poland. London to Wrocław is about two hours by direct flight; London to Istanbul is about four.
Does it matter that Turkey is outside the EU?
Yes, in two practical ways: the GHIC and EHIC are not valid in Turkey, and EU rules on medical devices and patient rights do not apply there.
Sources
- Turkey travel advice — health — GOV.UK (FCDO)
- In hospital abroad — GOV.UK
- Estimated number of visits by residents of Great Britain to overseas countries for medical treatment, 2024 — Office for National Statistics
- Poland travel advice — GOV.UK
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your GP or a specialist.
Related pages
Knee Replacement in Poland: Cost, What's Included and How It Works for UK Patients (2026)
Knee replacement in Poland from €8,620 (about £7,420): price list by implant, what the package includes, what is extra, travel and how to check a hospital.
Hip Replacement in Poland: Cost, What's Included and How It Works for UK Patients (2026)
Hip replacement in Poland from €6,940 (about £5,970): price list by implant, what the package includes, what is extra, travel and how to check a hospital.
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