COOKIE POLICY
Last Updated: 10 July 2026
This Cookie Policy provides information about the cookies and similar technologies used on the www.aperahealthgroup.com website operated by Apera Health Group.
Cookie preferences are managed according to the choices made by users visiting the website. Analytics and advertising cookies that are not technically necessary are not activated unless the user has given consent.
1. Service Provider and Contact Information
- Service Provider: Apera Health Group
- Address: Uphill Towers, A76, Ataşehir, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Telephone: +90 850 241 70 78
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Website: www.aperahealthgroup.com
In this Policy, Apera Health Group will hereinafter be referred to as “Apera.”
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small data files that may be stored on your browser or device when you visit a website.
Cookies may be used for the following purposes:
- Ensuring the secure and proper operation of the website
- Remembering the user’s language and country preferences
- Saving cookie preferences
- Measuring website usage
- Identifying technical issues
- Measuring the performance of advertising campaigns
- Improving the user experience
In addition to cookies, pixels, tags, local storage, and similar technologies may also be used. For the purposes of this Policy, all such technologies are collectively referred to as “cookies.”
3. Who Places Cookies?
Cookies used on the website may be divided into two categories:
First-Party Cookies
These are cookies placed directly by Apera’s website. They are generally used for:
- Operating the website
- Security
- Language preferences
- Saving cookie preferences
Third-Party Cookies
These are cookies that may be placed by third-party service providers such as Google, Meta, YouTube, or similar providers.
These cookies may be used for analytics, video display, maps, advertising measurement, or similar functionalities.
The data processing activities of third parties may be subject to their own Privacy Policies and Cookie Policies.
4. Categories of Cookies Used
4.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the basic functions of the website to operate properly. They may be used for the following purposes:
- Establishing secure connections
- Secure submission of forms
- Preventing misuse and cyberattacks
- Saving cookie preferences
- Remembering language preferences
- Maintaining technical sessions
Without these cookies, certain parts of the website may not function properly. Since strictly necessary cookies are required to provide the service requested by the user, they may be used without obtaining separate consent. However, users are informed about the use of these cookies.
4.2 Functionality and Preference Cookies
These cookies enable the website to remember the preferences selected by the user. For example:
- Preferred language
- Selected country or region
- Display settings
- Previously dismissed notifications
- User-defined website preferences
Where these cookies are not strictly necessary, they are activated only after obtaining the user’s consent.
4.3 Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how users interact with our website. The following information may be measured:
- Pages visited
- Time spent on pages
- Device and browser type
- Approximate country or region
- The channel through which the user arrived at the website
- Buttons clicked
- Form initiation and completion
- Page performance
- Technical error logs
For these purposes, Google Analytics 4 or similar analytics systems may be used. Analytics cookies are not activated unless the user has provided consent.
4.4 Advertising and Marketing Cookies
These cookies may be used to:
- Measure the performance of advertising campaigns
- Track advertising conversions
- Reduce the unnecessary repetition of the same advertisements
- Display more relevant advertisements based on the user’s consent
The following tools may be used for these purposes: Google Ads, Meta Pixel, Retargeting and conversion tracking tools, Similar advertising technologies.
Advertising and marketing cookies are not activated unless the user has provided consent.
5. Health Data and Advertising Systems
Apera operates in the healthcare sector. Therefore, appropriate measures are intended to be taken to prevent health-related information from being transmitted to advertising and analytics systems.
The following information must not be transmitted to Google, Meta, or any other advertising platform:
- Disease or diagnosis information
- Information entered into medical forms
- Medications used
- Surgical history
- Contents of medical reports
- Laboratory test results
- Patient photographs or medical documents
- Passport or identification details
- Patient’s full name
- Telephone number or email address
- Any specific information directly revealing that the user has applied for a particular medical treatment
Subject to the user’s consent, only general technical events may be transmitted to advertising and analytics systems. Examples include: Page viewed, Contact button clicked, WhatsApp button clicked, Form successfully submitted.
Event names, URLs, or parameters must not directly reveal the patient’s health condition or identity.
6. Tools That May Be Used on the Website
The following tools apply only if they are actually implemented on the website.
- Google Analytics 4
Purpose: Measuring website traffic and user interactions
Category: Analytics
Consent Requirement: User consent required
General Retention Period: Up to 14 months - Google Ads
Purpose: Measuring advertising campaigns and conversions
Category: Advertising and Marketing
Consent Requirement: User consent required
General Retention Period: Up to 13 months - Meta Pixel
Purpose: Measuring the performance of Facebook and Instagram advertising campaigns
Category: Advertising and Marketing
Consent Requirement: User consent required
General Retention Period: Up to 13 months - Google Tag Manager
Purpose: Managing analytics and advertising tags used on the website
Category: Technical Tag Management System
Although Google Tag Manager does not perform user analytics by itself, the analytics and advertising tags it manages must not be activated until the appropriate user consent has been obtained. - YouTube
If embedded YouTube videos are available on the website, YouTube may process data such as the user’s IP address, device information, and video interaction data.
Category: Functionality or Marketing
Consent Requirement: User consent is recommended before loading non-essential embedded content. Whenever possible, embedded videos should be displayed using Privacy-Enhanced Mode. - Google Maps
If Google Maps is used on the website, Google may process data such as the user’s IP address and device information.
Category: Functionality
Consent Requirement: User consent may be obtained before loading the map. - WhatsApp Link
The WhatsApp button on the website is provided solely as a hyperlink. No data should be transmitted to WhatsApp until the user clicks the button, as far as technically possible. Once the user clicks the link, WhatsApp’s own Privacy Policy and Terms of Service shall apply.
7. Legal Basis for Cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are used for the operation of the website and for providing the functions explicitly requested by the user.
Analytics, functionality, and advertising cookies are used, where required, on the basis of the user’s prior consent.
For users located within the European Union, cookies that are not technically necessary must not be stored on or accessed from the user’s device without obtaining valid consent. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous.
8. Cookie Consent Panel
When a user visits the website for the first time, a cookie preference panel should be displayed. The panel should provide the following options: Accept All, Reject All, Manage Preferences.
Users should be able to access both the acceptance and rejection options with equal ease. The following practices should not be used:
- Pre-ticked consent boxes
- Treating continued use of the website as consent
- Treating scrolling as consent
- Hiding the “Reject” option
- Steering users toward accepting cookies
- Activating non-essential cookies before consent has been obtained
9. Changing Cookie Preferences
Users may change or withdraw their previously given cookie consent at any time. A permanently accessible link should be available in the website footer: Manage My Cookie Preferences
Through this link, users should be able to:
- Enable or disable analytics cookies
- Enable or disable functionality cookies
- Enable or disable advertising and marketing cookies
- Reject all non-essential cookies
- Withdraw previously given consent
Withdrawing consent should be as easy as giving consent.
10. General Cookie Retention Periods
Cookies may be stored for different periods depending on their purpose. The general retention periods applicable to Apera are as follows:
- Session Cookies: Until the browser is closed
- Security Cookies: Up to 1 year
- Language and Preference Cookies: Up to 1 year
- Cookie Consent Records: Up to 2 years
- Analytics Cookies: Up to 14 months
- Google Ads Cookies: Up to 13 months
- Meta Advertising Cookies: Up to 13 months
- Functionality Cookies: Up to 1 year
The technical lifespan of cookies set by third-party providers may be shorter. Cookies automatically expire or become invalid once their retention period has ended.
11. Cookie List
The cookies that may be used on the website generally include the following:
| Cookie / Tool | Purpose | Category | General Retention Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie Preference Record | Remembering the user’s cookie choices | Strictly Necessary | 2 years |
| Language Preference Record | Remembering the selected website language | Functionality | 1 year |
| Security and Session Record | Protecting the website and forms | Strictly Necessary | Session / 1 year |
| Google Analytics 4 | Measuring website usage | Analytics | Up to 14 months |
| Google Ads | Measuring advertising conversions | Marketing | Up to 13 months |
| Meta Pixel | Measuring advertising performance | Marketing | Up to 13 months |
| YouTube | Displaying embedded videos | Functionality / Marketing | According to the provider’s retention period |
| Google Maps | Displaying maps | Functionality | According to the provider’s retention period |
This list may be updated if the tools used on the website change.
12. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
In addition to the cookie preference panel available on the website, users may also manage cookies through their browser settings. Through the browser, cookies may be: Viewed, Deleted, Completely blocked, Restricted for specific websites.
Blocking strictly necessary cookies may cause certain website functions to operate improperly.
13. International Data Transfers
When using services such as Google, Meta, YouTube, or similar providers, certain technical data may be processed outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Such transfers may be carried out in accordance with the relevant service provider’s: Data processing terms, Contractual safeguards, Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), Technical and organizational security measures.
Further details are provided in Apera’s Privacy Policy and GDPR Privacy Notice.
14. Children’s Data
The website is primarily intended for adult international patients. Behavioral or personalized advertising directed at minors is not intended. Where personal data relating to minors is processed, parental or legal guardian consent may be required.
15. Changes to This Policy
This Policy may be updated for reasons including:
- The introduction of new analytics or advertising tools
- Changes to the cookies used
- Changes to the website’s technical infrastructure
- Changes to the services provided
- Changes in applicable laws or regulatory requirements
The updated version shall become effective as of the date it is published on the website.
16. Contact
For any questions regarding cookies or your cookie preferences, please contact:
Apera Health Group
Uphill Towers, A76, Ataşehir, Istanbul, Türkiye
Telephone: +90 850 241 70 78
E-mail: [email protected]
