What To Do If You Have a Strep Throat in Istanbul

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Illustration depicting a young woman in a casual outfit, engaged with her smartphone. She has a pleasant expression, suggesting as she is quickly booking a telehealth consultation through Doctorsa
Virtual visit starting at

€20

Get immediate care for your strep throat while traveling in Istanbul

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My Easy Experience Treating a Strep Throat Online in Istanbul

01/06/2025

Key Points

  1. When you're feeling under the weather with strep throat in a foreign city like Istanbul, using Doctorsa can be a lifesaver. You can connect with a doctor without stressing over language barriers.
  2. Don’t hesitate to use online consultations for an online doctor prescription—they’re efficient, affordable, and can save you the hassle of navigating foreign healthcare systems.
  3. Keep your phone handy while traveling; a quick check-in with Doctorsa is ideal for minor issues and won't disrupt your adventures, especially when you need antibiotics for strep throat.



My throat was on fire, and every swallow felt like I was gulping down glass shards. Just my luck, this blasted strep throat hit me right in the middle of my Istanbul trip. I mean, navigating the Grand Bazaar is challenging enough without feeling like I’m choking on my own throat every time I try to talk. The idea of explaining my symptoms to a local pharmacist in broken Turkish was stressing me out more than the illness itself, especially since I needed strep throat medicine in Istanbul.

I remembered hearing about Doctorsa and, though a bit skeptical at first, figured it couldn’t hurt to try. I needed relief, and I needed it fast. It turns out, it was precisely the kind of efficient service I was hoping for. Within minutes, I was face-to-face online with Dr. Karlie, who not only spoke perfect English but also had this calming professional vibe that instantly made me feel at ease.

She walked me through the symptoms, confirmed it was strep throat, and sorted out a prescription for antibiotics for strep throat. The best part? It only cost me €20 for the consultation. Getting meds was straightforward, too, with a little help from the local pharmacy. All in all, it was cheaper than what I would’ve probably spent running around trying to find a clinic.

The convenience was a game-changer. I didn’t have to waste my precious travel time hunting for a medical center, and the service didn’t have me jumping through hoops with logins or signups. Plus, knowing I could message Dr. Karlie if anything didn’t improve over the next week was reassuring.

Thanks to Doctorsa, I was back on my feet enjoying my Turkish delights without the nagging pain in my throat. It was comforting to know that even miles away from home, there was reliable help just a few taps away. For anyone who needs to get antibiotics online or wonders how to get rid of strep throat fast, online prescription services are invaluable.

See a strep throat doctor for a fast treatment in Istanbul

Starting from

€20 video visit and prescription
  •  

Availability

24/7 for urgent Strep Throat TREATMENT online
  •  

Response time

5 mins for ONLINE Strep Throat TREATMENT
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How does it work?

99% of our users solve their issue within 1 hour. No waiting, no language barriers, no insurance needed.

Answer a few questions

Just answer a few questions about your strep throat and choose a convenient time for your online session. It’s simple and hassle-free, with no need to sign up.

Select and connect

Doctors respond in minutes. Select your preferred one and start your virtual consultation right from your web browser.

7-day free follow-up chat

Reach out to your doctor with any questions you might have, at no extra cost for 7 days following your consultation.

A Tourist’s Guide to Medical Care in Istanbul

Online Consultations:

Great for minor but urgent issues that don’t need a physical exam, such as strep throat or related symptoms.

With Doctorsa you can connect with an English-speaking doctor via video call in just a few minutes, get medical advice and, if appropriate, receive an e-prescription that can be used at any pharmacy. No need to worry about office hours or holidays. Clear and upfront pricing: consultations start at €20, so tourists in Istanbul needing treatment for strep throat can access affordable healthcare without surprises. Insurances accepted but not required.

Learn more about strep throat treatment online.

Hospitals in Istanbul

For serious, potentially life-threatening issues that require immediate, specialized treatment, like breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, or head injuries. Non-urgent visits use up resources needed for emergency patients. ERs are for serious, life-threatening issues. Going there for something like strep throat adds to doctors’ workload and may take time away from those in critical need.

Important: The information provided here about hospitals is for general reference only. We recommend verifying current details, such as contact information, services, and hours of operation, before visiting. Please reach out directly to the hospital or consult their official website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Hospitals with Emergency Rooms in Istanbul

American Hospital
Address: Nişantaşı, Teşvikiye Cd. No:20, 34365 Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey
Access: Walk-in emergency services are available 24/7. For severe emergencies, calling the national emergency number 112 is recommended for ambulance dispatch.

Mayo Hospital
Address: Sarıyer, Tarabya Mahallesi, Dr. Zeki Zeren Cd. No:19, 34457 Sarıyer/İstanbul, Turkey
Access: Emergency room accepts walk-in patients at all hours. Ambulance services can be reached via the national emergency number 112.

Florence Nightingale Hospital
Address: Acıbadem Mahallesi, Abdi İpekçi Cd. No:19, 34718 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Turkey
Access: The hospital offers 24-hour emergency care with walk-in access. Ambulance assistance is accessible through the 112 emergency hotline.

Popular Services in Istanbul

Walk-in clinics

Best for minor conditions needing same-day, in-person specialist attention—like X-rays for sprains or cuts that may need stitches, injections, advanced diagnostics, or other invasive procedures.

Pharmacies in Istanbul, Turkey

In Istanbul, pharmacies are known as “eczane” (pronounced ed-zah-neh). They are easily identifiable by a red and white sign with a large red “E” above the entrance. Pharmacies follow standardized signage and are open during regular business hours, with designated duty pharmacies (nöbetçi eczane) available after hours and on weekends.

Antibiotic Availability in Istanbul

In Istanbul, antibiotics are not sold over the counter. A valid prescription from a licensed medical professional is required for purchase, in accordance with national pharmaceutical regulations.

Emergency Number for Istanbul, Turkey

The emergency number for Istanbul is 112. This number connects you to ambulance services, fire departments, and police in urgent, life-threatening situations. Dialing 112 ensures that you receive immediate assistance from the appropriate emergency responders.

Please remember, emergency numbers should only be used for life-threatening or critical emergencies. For urgent but non-life-threatening health issues, telehealth services like Doctorsa provide convenient and professional medical advice without the need to visit a hospital.

Online Care vs. Emergency Room for Strep Throat treatment in Istanbul

 

ONLINE DOCTOR FOR Strep Throat
ProsCons
Low cost (avg. €25 for strep throat) Not for life-threatening situations.
Quick response (avg. 5 mins) 
✅ 24/7/365 availability 
✅ strep throat prescription online 
✅ English-speaking doctors 
✅ Free 7-day follow-up via chat 

EMERGENCY HOSPITAL FOR Strep Throat
ProsCons
365/24/7 availability Long wait times for simple strep throat cases
  Difficulty communicating
  Risk of airborne diseases
  No follow-up
  Higher costs

Your questions answered

Getting antibiotics for strep throat in Istanbul can be straightforward with Doctorsa. Instead of navigating healthcare in Turkey, you can connect with a licensed English-speaking doctor online through our telehealth platform in minutes. They’ll assess your symptoms via a virtual consultation and, if appropriate, provide a digital prescription you can use at a local pharmacy. It’s fast, hassle-free, and designed for people who need urgent care without the stress. Experience the convenience of telemedicine with Doctorsa today and get the care you need right from your smartphone!

You can buy antibiotics for strep throat in Istanbul without seeing a doctor in person. A quick online chat with an English-speaking doctor through Doctorsa is the easiest way to get antibiotics for your strep throat. The doctor will ask you a few questions and then will provide a prescription that you can collect at a nearby pharmacy in just a few minutes.

It’s very unlikely that a strep throat will go away on its own. In most cases, these conditions require treatment, and delaying care can lead to complications. With Doctorsa, you can quickly speak with an English-speaking doctor, get the treatment you need, and have prescriptions sent to a nearby pharmacy. Don’t wait—get the care you need today.

Open the intake form and choose one of the following options:

  • Urgent Care: For immediate treatment of your strep throat via virtual care.
  • Set Up an Appointment: To schedule a same-day or future appointment.
 

Next, select how you would like to receive appointment offers from doctors.
We recommend using WhatsApp as it is faster and more reliable. You will quickly receive various visit options. Choose the one that suits you best and proceed to online payment.

Video visits are browser-based, so no apps are needed. Simply click the link you receive to start your video visit in your browser.

After the consultation, you’ll receive an invoice and, if appropriate, an e-prescription via email. Depending on the location, you can show or print the prescription to purchase medication at your preferred pharmacy.

Learn more about how to see a doctor in Turkey as a foreigner

Following the consultation, if appropriate for your case, the doctor will either email the e-prescription to you or send it directly to the pharmacy. You can then either print it out or show it to the pharmacist when purchasing the medication.

It’s important to understand that doctors must responsibly evaluate each case individually. They can’t simply prescribe medication solely based on a patient’s request or a recommendation from another doctor without confirming that it’s suitable for the patient’s specific condition.

Prices vary depending on the provider since they compete to offer you a fair rate. On average, an online doctor visit costs around €25. In-person appointments, specialists, and lab work have different prices depending on the city. When you send a request you can choose the provider that suits you best but there’s no obligation to book.

Keep in mind that the consultation fee doesn’t include medication. The good news is that common antibiotics are generally affordable throughout Europe, usually between €5 and €15.

Absolutely! As soon as you send in your request, it’s instantly received by the doctors who are on duty at that moment. It doesn’t matter if it’s late at night, early on a Sunday morning, or even on May 1st when Istanbul celebrates Labour and Solidarity Day—there’s always someone ready to help. When you get an appointment option, just remember that a real doctor has seen your request and is ready to assist you.

You can message your physician with follow-up questions at no additional cost for up to 7 days after the video visit.

More questions?

Check out the Help Center to learn more.
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