Online pharmacies in Turkey: can you order medicine online?
Why Turkish pharmacies don't sell online, where to get medicine at night, and how to check a supplement, cream or blood pressure monitor first.
Table of Contents
No, you cannot order medicine online in Turkey — even over-the-counter medicine. Article 24 of Law No. 6197 bans medicine sales over the internet and all other electronic channels, so only pharmacies — eczane — can supply it. Dietary supplements, cosmetics and some medical devices can legally be sold online, but each category needs its own checks.
At a glance
Medicine — only at a pharmacy. Everything else — after checking the label and seller.
- Medicine — no website or messaging app sales, even without a prescription.
- Supplements and cosmetics — available online if you check the product and seller.
- Medical devices — online only from an authorised seller; without authorisation, only simple items such as plasters.
- At night — nöbetçi eczane, the pharmacy on duty according to the rota.
Basket test
What do you want to buy?
Choose a product to see which sales rules apply.
- Pharmacy only
Paracetamol is a medicine, even though it needs no prescription. Only pharmacies sell it.
- Pharmacy only
An antibiotic is a prescription medicine: you need a pharmacy and a doctor’s prescription.
- Check first
Vitamin D can be a medicine or a dietary supplement. The label tells you which.
- Check first
Omega-3 can also be a medicine or a supplement. Check the category first, then choose a shop.
- Check first
Protein is more often sold as sports nutrition than as a supplement. Check the label.
- Check first
Cream is usually a cosmetic: you can buy it online, but check the specific product and seller.
- Authorised seller
A blood pressure monitor is a medical device: only a shop authorised to sell medical devices can sell it online.
- Authorised seller
Test strips are medical devices too: you need an authorised seller and strips compatible with your glucose meter.
- Pharmacy only
Infant formula for medical use is food for special medical purposes. Only pharmacies sell it, and never online.
- Ask a pharmacist
Unsure of the category? Start with a pharmacist and the label.
Bu ürünün kategorisi nedir?What category does this product belong to?
Medicine cannot be sold online. Even without a prescription.
The rule is simple and makes no exceptions for ‘mild’ medicines. Article 24 of the Law on Pharmacists and Pharmacies, as amended in 2014, states clearly: medicines cannot be sold over the internet or through any other electronic medium. The same article bans websites set up in the name of pharmacies and pharmacists.
§ 24 · Law No. 6197
A pharmacy is the only legal sales channel for medicine.
«İlaçların internet veya başkaca herhangi bir elektronik ortamda satışı yapılamaz.»
‘Medicines may not be sold over the internet or through any other electronic medium.’ A website with eczane in its address is not a pharmacy, so it cannot legally sell medicine.
‘No prescription means I can order it online’
No. The ban covers all medicines. Over-the-counter status only means the pharmacy will not ask for a prescription; it does not change where the medicine can be sold.
‘The address contains eczane, so it must be a pharmacy’
The law bans websites set up in the name of pharmacies. The word eczane or ecza in an address is a sign, not a licence, and the website has no right to sell medicine.
‘A foreign website will ship it, no questions asked’
A parcel from a random shop may contain a counterfeit product or never arrive. If a medicine is unavailable in Turkey, the legal route is to import it through TEB’s overseas medicines service with a prescription. The service asks for a Turkish identification number, so tourists should ask a pharmacist first.
One shelf. Four different rules.
In a Turkish pharmacy, medicines, vitamins, creams and blood pressure monitors sit on neighbouring shelves. They look similar, but different sales rules apply. The category depends on what the label says, not how the packaging looks or which shop sells it.
What does the label say?
Medicine · İlaç
The pharmacy route
The online sales ban applies to all medicines. The word eczane on a website does not make it a pharmacy.
- Where to buy
- Only at a pharmacy; at night, a duty pharmacy
- Bring
- The name, a photo of the packaging and a prescription if you have one
- Not in Turkey
- Ask a pharmacist about importing it through TEB
Dietary supplement · Takviye edici gıda
Check its status first
Vitamin D or omega-3 can be a medicine or a dietary supplement. You cannot tell from the ingredient or the capsule’s shape — only from the label.
- On the label
- The words ‘takviye edici gıda’ and an approval number
- Where to check
- The Agriculture Ministry’s list of approved supplements
- Online
- Allowed if the product is on the approved supplements list
A listing does not prove that a particular bottle is authentic or promise that it will treat an illness.
Cosmetic · Kozmetik ürün
The specific product and seller
‘Pharmacy cosmetics’ and ‘dermocosmetics’ describe a product range, not a medical status.
- Check
- The name, volume, ingredients and party responsible for the product
- On the pack
- The batch and expiry date or period after opening
- Note
- A record in ÜTS is not TİTCK approval
A cream that ‘treats’ an illness is a reason to be wary: cosmetics do not treat illnesses.
Medical device · Tıbbi cihaz
Online — authorisation required
Only a shop with authorisation — satış merkezi yetki belgesi — can sell medical devices online. Without it, sellers may sell only simple devices on a separate list: plasters, cotton wool and masks.
- First
- Does the seller have authorisation to sell medical devices?
- Then
- The exact model and its ÜTS record
- Before paying
- Compatibility, instructions, warranty and returns
Unsure of the category
Ask first
An unknown status means neither ‘allowed’ nor ‘banned’. Do not judge by an advertising headline — ask for the exact name and a photo of the label.
Bu ürünün kategorisi nedir?What category does this product belong to?
A special case
Medical nutrition. Formulas for special medical purposes, including infant formulas, and enteral nutrition are sold only at pharmacies — just like medicines and registered herbal and homeopathic remedies (article 42 of the pharmacy regulations). They cannot be sold online either (article 43). Do not confuse them with ordinary baby food.
Need medicine? Three steps to the pharmacy.
The legal route is simple: a pharmacy — eczane — recognised by its illuminated E sign. The pharmacist will tell you whether the medicine is available, whether you need a prescription and what to do if the pack you need is unavailable.
- Before leavingBring the medicine’s name, a photo of its packaging and a prescription if a doctor prescribed it. The packaging shows the active ingredient and dosage form, which will help the pharmacist.
- At the counterShow the photo and ask about availability and prescriptions. A foreign prescription may not be accepted: requirements depend on the medicine.Bu ilaç için reçete gerekiyor mu?Does this medicine need a prescription?
- If out of stockDo not choose a substitute yourself based on a similar name. The pharmacist will suggest a legal option; if the medicine is unavailable in Turkey, it can be ordered from abroad through TEB with a prescription.
Pack your bag
Everything packed — you’re ready to go to the pharmacy.
Will a foreign prescription be accepted?
Not always. Over-the-counter medicines are sold without one, but for prescription medicines the pharmacist may ask for a Turkish prescription. Bring your prescription and the packaging. If you need a Turkish prescription, see a doctor.
Find a medicine’s name with Turkpidya search
Nöbetçi eczane: a duty pharmacy at night
In the evening, at weekends and on public holidays, a duty pharmacy — nöbetçi eczane — is open. Local chambers of pharmacists draw up daily rotas, which the provincial health directorate approves. Yesterday’s list is no use today. Every pharmacy, even when closed, must display the names, addresses and phone numbers of duty pharmacies.
- DaytimeRegular pharmacies are open. Look for the Eczane sign — you do not need a duty pharmacy yet.
- Closing timeRegular pharmacies will close soon. If you may need medicine in the evening, open your district’s duty pharmacy list in advance.
- Evening · nöbetRegular pharmacies are closed; the duty pharmacy is open according to the local rota. Check the city, district and today’s date, then call.
- After midnightIt is easy to get the date wrong: check which day and hours the list covers. The door may be closed — look for a doorbell or instructions at the entrance.
- Early morningThe duty shift is ending. Call to check when it ends: Nöbetiniz saat kaçta bitiyor?
- DoorbellIf you have confirmed the pharmacy is on duty but the entrance is closed, ring the bell or follow the instructions at the entrance. Article 35 of the pharmacy regulations provides for this.
Illustrative timeline. Opening hours and shifts follow the local duty rota.
Before you go
- City and district. The list must cover the right location.
- Date and hours. Duty shifts change daily — check the hours after midnight too.
- Call. Confirm the pharmacy is on duty and ask about the medicine you need.
Where to look: Istanbul duty pharmacies on Turkpidya and the duty pharmacy search on e-Devlet. A blank page or one that will not load does not mean there are no pharmacies: find the local chamber of pharmacists in TEB’s list and open its rota.
On duty, but the door is closed?
This can happen: a duty pharmacy does not have to keep its door open at night (article 35 of the pharmacy regulations). But there must be a bell at the entrance, and the pharmacist must serve anyone who rings it. If you have confirmed the pharmacy is on duty, ring the bell.
Read the label, not the shop’s promises
A platform’s name, reviews, a discount and the word ‘natural’ cannot replace checking the specific product. Here are the key lines on the packaging — choose a product type.
ÖRNEK · 60 KAPSÜL
1Ürün adı: Örnek D3 + K2
2Takviye edici gıda
3Üretici / İthalatçı: Örnek Gıda San. A.Ş., İstanbul
4Onay No: ••-••••-••••
5Parti No: L-2405 · TETT: 08/2027
An example, not a real label. Actual packaging formats vary.
- 1Exact name. Compare the full name and pack size, not just the brand.
- 2Category. Takviye edici gıda means dietary supplement. A vitamin or omega-3 is not automatically a supplement.
- 3Manufacturer or importer. The company must match the entry in the Agriculture Ministry’s list.
- 4Approval number. Onay numarası must appear on the label. Do not confuse it with İşletme kayıt no — the business registration number.
- 5Batch and date. Check the batch number, date and whether the packaging is intact.
ÖRNEK DERMO · 50 ml
1Nemlendirici krem · 50 ml
2İçindekiler: Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, …
3Üretici / Sorumlu kişi: Örnek Kozmetik Ltd., İzmir
4Parti No: B-24117
5SKT veya açıldıktan sonra: 12M
An example, not a real label. A ÜTS record does not mean TİTCK approval.
- 1Name and volume. Match them exactly, not just the brand.
- 2Ingredients. İçindekiler must match the seller’s description.
- 3Responsible person. Who is responsible for the product; look for details through TİTCK and ÜTS.
- 4Batch. The number on the box and the tube itself.
- 5Expiry. A date or an open-jar symbol: ‘12M’ means 12 months after opening.
ÖRNEK MEDİKAL · BP-200
1Model: Koldan tansiyon aleti BP-200
2Üretici: Örnek Medikal A.Ş.
3Ürün no / barkod (ÜTS): 869 •••• ••••• •
4Uyumlu manşet: 22–42 cm
5Türkçe kullanım kılavuzu · Garanti belgesi
An example, not a real label. A model’s ÜTS record does not replace the seller’s authorisation.
- 1Exact model. It must match on the box, product listing and documents.
- 2Manufacturer. Compare it with the device’s ÜTS record.
- 3ÜTS record. Ask the seller to show the record for the barcode.
- 4Compatibility. Cuff size, test strips and consumables — especially when buying them separately.
- 5Instructions and warranty. Turkish instructions, a warranty certificate and return terms.
For dietary supplements
Check the Agriculture Ministry’s list
Supplements complement your diet and are not medicines. Each product is approved separately: if it is not on the list, it is not considered an approved supplement. A listing does not prove that the bottle delivered to you is authentic or promise a therapeutic effect.
Search by product or company name. List will not open? Access it through the ministry’s website. You can report a product without approval by calling Alo 174.
Sports nutrition
Protein and other sports nutrition products form a separate category in Turkey, ‘sporcu gıdası’, with their own rules. The supplements list is only for products labelled ‘takviye edici gıda’ — do not apply it to a sports shop’s entire catalogue.
When to ask a professional
If you take medicine, are buying a product for a child, are pregnant or have a chronic condition, ask a doctor or pharmacist whether it is suitable for you. This guide helps you find a legal route and check a product, rather than choose a treatment.
Medical devices: the model and seller’s authorisation matter
Medical devices can be sold online, but only by a shop with authorisation — satış merkezi yetki belgesi. Without it, only simple devices such as plasters, cotton wool and masks can be sold online. Blood pressure monitors, glucose meters and test strips are not among them. Contact lenses are a separate case: they can be sold online only with a prescription and through an approved optician’s website. Tap the numbers in the picture.
- Device modelDoes the model match the device’s ÜTS record?
- CuffThe cuff and other consumables must be compatible with your device.
- Test stripsDo they fit your glucose meter? Check the model on the packaging.
- Instructions and warrantyTurkish instructions, warranty, servicing and return terms.
Four questions for the seller
- Do you have authorisation to sell medical devices — satış merkezi yetki belgesi?
- Does the model match the ÜTS record?
- Are the cuff, strips and consumables compatible with my device?
- Are there Turkish instructions, a warranty and return terms?
Medical device sales regulations, article 26
Online shops: what lies behind the name
First, practise on a fictional shop: its page hides six warning signs. Then explore seven catalogues mentioned in the previous version of this article.
The word eczane in an address is a sign, not a licence.
Find 6 warning signs
Broad-spectrum antibiotic — no prescription
₺ 890₺ 267−70% today only · ★ 5.0 (12,480)
100% natural cream — treats eczema in 7 days
349 ₺
© 2026 · Fictional site for practice
- The word eczane in the address. Pharmacies are banned from setting up websites, so this is not a pharmacy.
- ‘No questions asked’. Only a pharmacy can legally sell medicine, and asking questions is part of a pharmacist’s job.
- An antibiotic online. No medicines can be sold online, and antibiotics also require a prescription.
- A discount and a perfect rating. −70% ‘today only’ and thousands of five-star ratings are pressure tactics, not proof.
- Cosmetics that ‘treat’ illness. A cream promising to cure an illness in a week is either not a cosmetic or a scam.
- WhatsApp only. No company name, address or return terms — no one to hold accountable.
Seven catalogues from the previous article
Vitaminler
vitaminler.com — vitamins, minerals, omega-3 and other supplements.
Supplementler
supplementler.com — sports nutrition and training products.
Proteinocean
proteinocean.com — its own range of nutrition products and supplements.
Kozmela
kozmela.com — cosmetics, skin and hair care, some vitamins and thermometers.
EczaOnline
eczaonline.com — dermocosmetics, mother and baby products, supplements, thermometers and blood pressure monitors.
Medikaliste
medikaliste.com — medical devices, blood pressure monitors and professional supplies.
HepsiMedikal
hepsimedikal.com.tr — medical consumables, test strips, blood pressure monitors and glucose meters.
Product ranges were checked on 4 October 2026: none of the shops offered medicines. We did not check the sellers’ authorisations. This is not advertising or a list of vetted sellers — check each product separately.
What if I buy on a marketplace?
Check the seller on each listing separately. A well-known platform’s name does not mean the product is sold by its manufacturer or an authorised shop. Supplements still need checking against the list, and devices require the seller’s authorisation. Avoid medicine listings and promises to send prescription medicines ‘no questions asked’.
Delivery, payment and returns: what to ask first
On the seller’s page, check the total price including delivery, delivery times, payment method and return terms for this product category. Free delivery and ‘ships today’ offers change, and acceptance of foreign cards is not guaranteed. Returns of opened hygiene products may be restricted.
Five checks before you pay
Work through the list before buying. Check marks are saved only in your browser and say nothing about the product’s safety.
Before paying
All five checks complete. Keep the receipt and messages with the seller.
For medicine from a pharmacy
Karekod on the packaging
You can check medicine from a pharmacy yourself: every pack has a karekod — a square code. The İTS Mobil app scans it and shows whether the pack is registered in the medicine tracking system. This is not a quality guarantee, but it is a useful first step. TİTCK’s guide to counterfeits (PDF, in Turkish).
Pharmacy phrases in Turkish
Tap ‘Show’ to display the phrase full screen in large text so the pharmacist can read it on your phone. You can listen to the pronunciation or copy the text.
Bu ilaç stokta var mı?
Boo ee-lahch stok-tah vahr muh?
Is this medicine in stock?
Bu ilaç için reçete gerekiyor mu?
Boo ee-lahch ee-cheen reh-cheh-teh geh-reh-kee-yor moo?
Does this medicine need a prescription?
Etkin maddesi aynı olan bir ilaç var mı?
Et-keen mahd-deh-see eye-nuh oh-lahn beer ee-lahch vahr muh?
Is there a medicine with the same active ingredient?
İlacın adı, kutusunun fotoğrafı ve reçetem burada.
Ee-lah-juhn ah-duh, koo-too-soo-noon foh-toh-rah-fuh veh reh-cheh-tem boo-rah-dah.
Here are the medicine’s name, a photo of the packaging and my prescription.
Bugün nöbetçi misiniz? Nöbetiniz saat kaçta bitiyor?
Boo-gewn nur-bet-chee mee-see-neez? Nur-beh-tee-neez sah-aht kahch-tah bee-tee-yor?
Are you on duty today? Until what time?
En yakın nöbetçi eczane nerede?
En yah-kuhn nur-bet-chee ej-zah-neh neh-reh-deh?
Where is the nearest duty pharmacy?
Bu ürün ilaç mı, takviye edici gıda mı?
Boo ew-rewn ee-lahch muh, tahk-vee-yeh eh-dee-jee guh-dah muh?
Is this a medicine or a dietary supplement?
Bu ürünün onay numarası nedir?
Boo ew-rew-newn oh-nye noo-mah-rah-suh neh-deer?
What is this product’s approval number?
Bu ürünün kategorisi nedir?
Boo ew-rew-newn kah-teh-goh-ree-see neh-deer?
What category does this product belong to?
Bu ürünün ÜTS kaydını ve modelini gösterebilir misiniz?
Boo ew-rew-newn ew-teh-seh kye-duh-nuh veh moh-deh-lee-nee gurs-teh-reh-bee-leer mee-see-neez?
Can you show me the device’s ÜTS record and model?
Satış merkezi yetki belgeniz var mı?
Sah-tuhsh mer-keh-zee yet-kee bel-geh-neez vahr muh?
Do you have authorisation to sell medical devices?
Fatura veriyor musunuz? Garanti ve iade koşulları nelerdir?
Fah-too-rah veh-ree-yor moo-soo-nooz? Gah-rahn-tee veh ee-ah-deh koh-shool-lah-ruh neh-ler-deer?
Do you issue an invoice? What are the warranty and return terms?
Sources and the guide’s limits
This guide does not diagnose conditions, prescribe doses or choose substitute medicines. The rules were checked against legislation and agency websites on 4 October 2026; check product availability and duty pharmacy rotas separately.
- Law No. 6197 on Pharmacists and Pharmacies, article 24 (as amended by Law No. 6514, 2014) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 4 October 2026
- Regulations on Pharmacists and Pharmacies (Eczacılar ve Eczaneler Hakkında Yönetmelik), articles 25, 26, 35, 42, 43 — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 4 October 2026
- What is a dietary supplement? — Turkey’s Agriculture Ministry, checked 4 October 2026
- List of approved dietary supplements — Turkey’s Agriculture Ministry, checked 4 October 2026
- Food product registration and approval — Turkey’s Agriculture Ministry, checked 4 October 2026
- Regulations on the Sale, Advertising and Promotion of Medical Devices, article 26 (as amended on 3 July 2026) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 4 October 2026
- Medical device sales centres — TİTCK, checked 4 October 2026
- Guide for responsible persons and cosmetics buyers (28 January 2026) — TİTCK, checked 4 October 2026
- Duty pharmacy search — e-Devlet, checked 4 October 2026
- Chambers of pharmacists — TEB, checked 4 October 2026
- Medicines from abroad — TEB, checked 4 October 2026
- Guide to counterfeits and supply chain breaches (PDF) — TİTCK, checked 4 October 2026
- Food labelling regulations, articles 9 and 13 (approval number on the label) — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 4 October 2026
The new images are editorial illustrations, not photographs of a particular pharmacy or product. Illustrations from the previous version of the article appear below.
