Getting sick in a foreign country is never a fun experience. The anxiety of seeking medical services when language and cultural barriers are likely to complicate matters further could make one debate whether they should seek treatment at all when abroad.
But why let a nasty bug, an inflamed joint, or an allergic reaction tarnish an otherwise pleasant vacation?
Japan offers excellent medical services, comparable to what you’ll find in any technologically advanced country. Much of Japan’s health sector is privatized, offering a great variety of services at costs that most people find reasonable. In addition, most physicians in Japan can speak and understand English at a high level and many health care facilities provide some English support. In recent years, Japan has become a major medical tourism destination
To help guests of Hotel Kinki get swift and appropriate medical services in times of need, we offer a bilingual medical questionnaire that can be found in the guide book in your room (or you can ask for it at the front desk). This form can be completed and presented to the staff at a pharmacy, clinic or hospital to quickly communicate the essence of your health concern.
First of all, if you’re suffering from a medical emergency, ask someone with a phone to call for an ambulance:
“kyuukyuu sha ni renraku shite kudasai.”
Or, you can dial 119 from any pay phone, free of charge, and put in the call yourself.
If you think you need the broad services of a hospital, you can visit Kitano Hospital, which is a short walk or taxi ride from Hotel Kinki. Ask for language assistance when you arrive at the hospital, as you’ll need to register as a patient before seeing a physician.
Typically, you’ll be guided to a waiting area and be placed in a first come first serve queue. It can take minutes or hours to see a doctor this way, but you’ll be in the right hands if your facing a serious medical problem.
After your visit is complete, you’ll need to pay before you leave, which means finding the checkout desk on the main floor, and being put into another wait queue as they process your paperwork. You’ll need to pay the fee for registering at the hospital (a first time visitor fee) as well as any services given during that visit.
A pharmacy will sell you drugs for common ailments such as headaches, colds and diarrhea. Some medication, such as ibuprofen (a popular Japanese brand is Narcon Ace) is sold without a prescription, but is held behind the counter. Just tell the store staff what you’re suffering from or what medication you need, and they’ll get you something appropriate.
Most Japanese people visit private clinics when they wish to consult a physician. These walk-in clinics offer specialized services, so you’ll want to find one offering the appropriate help for your particular ailment. For common concerns, you can visit an internist (Doctor of Internal Medicine).
When you enter a clinic, you’ll need to take off your shoes and don a pair of slippers. Next, approach the front desk and explain that you’d like to see a doctor:
“Oisha-san ga hitsuyoo desu.”
At some point early on they’ll ask if you have medical insurance; you’ll hear the word “hoken”. Since you unlikely have Japanese medical coverage, reply with:
“Hoken ga arimasen.”
Just remember to save all your receipts and documents so that you can make a claim when you return home.
In Japan, face time with a physician is shockingly brief; your entire consultation may be over in just a few minutes. However, each clinic is staffed with many assistants, so you may spend the bulk of your time interacting with a nurse.
If the clinic has prescribed medication, the staff will guide you to a nearby pharmacy. Submit your prescription and take a seat while they prepare your medication. When your meds are ready, a pharmacist will provide detailed instructions on how to take them.
In the next blog post, I will introduce some basic Japanese language to help you when you need medical assistance in Japan.
