Can I just contact the Istanbul hospital directly instead of going through OncologyIstanbul?
Yes, that's always your right — but it won't be cheaper. Every partner hospital's agreement includes a price-parity clause: you never pay more going through OncologyIstanbul than you would booking directly, because hospitals pay the service's fixed fee, not patients. Going through the service adds the free tumor-board review, competing itemized quotes from multiple hospitals, and a named coordinator handling translation and logistics — at the same price the hospital would quote you on your own. Direct, you negotiate alone with one hospital instead of several bidding for your case. See how the fee model works.