Izanau
Beta
  • English
  • 日本語
  • 中文
  • Articles
  • Jobs
  • Companies
  • Candidates
  • About
  • Students
  • 企業向け
  • 企業向け
  • FAQ
  • Work Tips
  • Life Tips
  • Register
  • Log In
日本語 中文
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Google+

Handling Medical Emergencies in Japan

Monday, February 25, 2019

Where to call, what to expect and how to handle medical emergencies as a foreigner in Japan.

health insurance in Japanpain relief medicationGamanemergency notificationMedical Emergencies in JapanJapanese medicinehospitals in Japandoctors in Japanmedical services in Japanemergency medicine Japanemergency services JapanJapanese HospitalsJapanese medical careambulance in Japannational health insurance Japanmedical terms in Japanese
Handling Medical Emergencies in Japan

The healthcare system in Japan is based on the values of socialized medicine. Under this system, both citizens and temporary residents of Japan pay 30% of all their medical bills, including dental, out of pocket, and the remaining 70% is covered by national health insurance. In addition to national health insurance, establishments that employ 700 or more employees on a continuous basis or that include 3,000 or more employees in the same type of business or industry are eligible to establish their own health insurance societies called kenpo. Health insurance payments to the national scheme and these insurance societies are deducted from monthly salaries automatically. For example, as a scientific researcher, The Science and Technology Health Insurance Society, handles insurance benefits and claims so that the employees can make claims directly through their workplace (instead of at their local ward office), whether for long-term illnesses, maternity care or emergencies.  Insurance benefits extend to immediate family members including parents who are declared as dependents. The Japanese well known for their incredibly high life expectancy with a good quality of life for people in their twilight years. While there is plenty to know about gaining access to healthcare while in Japan, this article will focusses on handling accidents and medical emergencies.

Whether you are in a car accident or a hiking mishap, the first number to call in Japan is 119, which reaches the fire, ambulance and emergency rescue departments1. In general, the police (accessed by the number 110) are also immediately notified. Making such a call from the public payphone is free of charge and does not require coins or a prepaid card. Instead, there is a red button - kinkyu tsuho (emergency notification) - on the front of the unit, which needs to be pressed before the required number is dialed in. Once you get through, you will have to report that it’s an emergency, what happened, the location of the incident, your name, and the number you are calling from etc. Sometimes, English-speaking operators are available in more urban areas like Tokyo. Nevertheless, speaking in English to a non-English speaking operator isn’t going to prevent you from getting help, just speak slowly and clearly while stating your location. In Japan, transportation of patients by ambulances and air-rescue ambulances are free of charge in cases of genuine emergency. Paramedics choose the hospital based on the patient’s condition, which might not always be the hospital of your preference, but requests can be made and the paramedics will judge the situation depending on distance, the patient’s condition, and if a specialized doctor is available in that location. 

d16dd118-38d1-11e9-8a16-062e737cfa80.jpeg

Upon reaching a hospital in an emergency, having a friend or coworker who can translate between English and Japanese is extremely helpful, even though many hospitals these days provide some translation services. Nevertheless, doctors and paramedics do tend to understand medical terms when spoken slowly or with a slight Japanese accent. Standard questions are the same anywhere in the world, for example, known allergies - Arerugī, existing illness - Byōki, and about the level of pain - Itami dou desu ka? (How is your pain?) There is plenty of paperwork to be filled, especially in cases where surgery is required, and having a Japanese translator is very helpful. Fortunately, there is also a medical and security assistance service called the International SOS for managing such situations, to which a registered membership card may be provided by larger Japanese institutions for their foreign staff. The membership card contains an SOS phone number and membership ID which gives access to a concierge service, translator etc. both in Japan and internationally.

It is advised that you keep your insurance card with you at all times, as it is required as soon as you reach a or medical facility. In cases where you do not have your insurance card on you, hospitals require 100 % of the total costs up front, later copies of the insurance card can to be sent and upon receiving the relevant information, the facility will reimburse the 70% as is standard. In some situations some administrative and/or postage fees may be deducted before the money is returned. Even in cases where the bills must be paid in full, the sum tends be reasonable, compared to fees payable in the US for similar incidents, and local hospitals are generally able to make arrangements for payments to be delayed or received in installments. Moreover, monthly medical expenses are capped to a certain amount, according to your monthly salary if you are in an insurance society (e.g. IBM Japan Kenpo) and thus, further reimbursements are provided by your health insurance society at a later date.

After emergency treatment, a patient has the freedom to choose their preferred hospital or doctor to continue treatment in any part of Japan, and the transfer of medical information and documents is relatively seamless. For example, if one were hiking in Mie prefecture and happened to break a bone, first response treatment would take place at the nearby Matsuzaka Hospital. Then, patient can choose to return to Osaka where they live to continue treatment once their condition is stabilized and the emergency doctor deems that he or she is fit to travel. 

d14e86b4-38d1-11e9-b54d-062e737cfa80.png

As with every country, one can expect differences in medical policies and practices. The Zen Buddhist philosophy of Gaman largely shapes the Japanese attitude to pain management, and thus it is known that pain relief medication is largely under-prescribed unless absolutely necessary. There are many anecdotal stories where foreign women giving birth in Japan have had to deal with lesser amounts of pain medication than expected2. This is also true of emergency rooms and thus it is advised that foreign patients be vocal about their pain and discomfort and in asking about pain management options. In general, opioids are prescribed at a far lesser rate Japan than in the US (or most other places in the world), which has also mitigated the opioid-dependence crisis3. Post-surgery, opioids tend to be prescribed sparingly at best.

Even with the language barrier, and differences in medical practices, the quality of healthcare in Japan is very good, and handling the logistics of receiving treatment is largely stress-free. According to the Japan Times in 2017, the health insurance system might be buckling under the pressures of an aging population, where tax-paying population is under the pressure of ever increasing as taxes and premiums to close the gap4. Moreover, there are shortages of medical professionals such as anesthesiologists5 in the country, and growing disparity in the distribution of doctors in the country, resulting in shortages of specialists in rural areas6. The barrier for entry for foreigners as doctors is still high due to serious problems with the language barrier, and strict qualifications from an insular system and endurance testing7 (that is to say, the processing time for applications by foreign doctors can take months, one British doctor waited 15 months before getting permission to work as a doctor in Japan.) The sustainability of this wonderful system is going to be greatly dependent on measures to address these issues by the Japanese government.

But, despite the system’s future problems and the language barriers that all foreigners encouter, the security of a stellar insurance system and the high level of medical expertise does make Japan one of the better places to break your limb while hiking in the wilderness. 

1.      https://www.tokyo-icc.jp/guide_eng/kinkyu/01.html

2.      https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/hospitals-uk-vs-japan-length-of-stay-language-birth-kids-and-pain-relief

3.      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28379832

4.      https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/02/19/national/japans-buckling-health-care-system-crossroads/

5.      http://www.med.or.jp/english/pdf/2007_04/325_329.pdf

6.      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29317415

7.      https://bccjacumen.com/globalising-japans-medical-care/




----------------------------------------------

Want to work in Japan?

Sign up here to connect directly with Japanese companies. 

Or check out our latest job postings here.



  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Google+
About the Author
Sandhya P. Tiwari

Scientist, with 3 years in Kobe and counting...

  • Latest Jobs
ドローンサービスのフロント・バックエンド業務
Other IT, Communications
DAIYASERVICE Inc.
ドローンによる空撮・インフラ点検・実証実験のフロントおよびバックエンドの業務を担当頂きたいと思います。かなり多岐に渡りますので、マルチタスクが好きな方を歓迎します。その他、ブロックコーディングソフト「Scratch」を使用したプログラミング教室の講師のお仕事もございます。
Monthly Salary ¥20 ~ ¥30
Chiba 千葉市花見川区
Full-time
Apply Now
Brand Ambassador
Business Consulting, Think-tanks
INS Global KK
Type of contract: commission only Supervisor: Operations Manager Work Location: Japan - Remote Work (Office based in Tokyo)
Tokyo Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku
Not applicable
Apply Now
English teacher for kids in Gifu prefecture
Education, Training
英会話スクールWin
We are currently accepting applications for a position of a new part-time native English Instructor. We are a fun but professional organization and give students practical English lessons. We are looking for somebody to ...
Monthly Salary ¥160K ~ ¥190K
Gifu 可児市皐ケ丘4-13
Part-time
Apply Now
Latest Articles
  • Monday, October 26, 2020
  • Labor Shortages in Japan (July 2020 Statistics)

  • Friday, October 16, 2020
  • What Might Japan’s Energy Future Look Like?

  • Thursday, October 8, 2020
  • Jobs in Japan During a Global Pandemic

  • Sunday, September 6, 2020
  • Discrimination and Stigma in Japanese Society: The Case of COVID-19

  • Tuesday, August 4, 2020
  • Racism Denial: The Case of Japan

  • Friday, July 17, 2020
  • Labor Shortages in Japan (May 2020 Statistics)

  • Tuesday, June 23, 2020
  • Homelessness, Social Stigma, and Fringes of Japanese Society

  • Monday, June 8, 2020
  • Gambling, Pachinko and the Impact of the COVID-19

  • Friday, June 5, 2020
  • Government Support for International Students and Foreigners Living in Japan During the Coronavirus

  • Monday, May 18, 2020
  • COVID-19 and University Life in Japan

  • Saturday, May 9, 2020
  • How to Apply for the ¥100,000 Coronavirus Government Support Money

  • Wednesday, May 6, 2020
  • To Those Who Have Lost Their Jobs Because of the State of Emergency In Japan

  • Wednesday, April 29, 2020
  • What is it like being LGBT in Japan?

  • Friday, April 24, 2020
  • ¥100,000 Japanese Government Support Money. Do you qualify?

  • Thursday, April 23, 2020
  • Visas and Government Support for Foreigners During the Coronavirus in Japan

  • Thursday, April 16, 2020
  • Why Can’t Japan Work From Home?

  • Friday, April 3, 2020
  • Japan Coronavirus Information Site List by Prefecture (Phone Consultations Available)

  • Monday, March 30, 2020
  • Job Search Support for International Students in Japan

  • Tuesday, March 24, 2020
  • The Coronavirus and the Olympics

  • Thursday, March 12, 2020
  • What to do during Volcanic Eruptions in Japan

  • Wednesday, March 4, 2020
  • Qualifying for the Highly Skilled Foreign Professional Visa Schedule (1) in Japan

  • Thursday, February 27, 2020
  • What to do when you miss the last train home in Japan

  • Friday, February 21, 2020
  • Viral and Vulnerable: Japan and the Coronavirus

  • Tuesday, February 18, 2020
  • Japan’s Future: Will they embrace their hāfu population?

  • Wednesday, February 12, 2020
  • Jobs with Labor Shortages in Japan, Ranked (2019) January 2020 Update

  • Thursday, February 6, 2020
  • Hāfu: What it means to Japanese in a Changing Japan

  • Saturday, November 30, 2019
  • A Beginner’s Guide to the Labyrinth of Dating Apps in Japan

  • Thursday, November 21, 2019
  • Racing with Marriage - A Peculiar Trend of Modern Japan

  • Friday, November 1, 2019
  • Cost of living in Japan: Housing

  • Thursday, October 31, 2019
  • MyMizu App - Water tapping app in Japan

See All Articles

Work in Japan, Enjoy Japan

Finding a job abroad may seem challenging, but Izanau is here to make the process simple. Register now and you're one step closer to enjoying your new life in Japan.
Register your account

Jobs In Japan Made Simple
Copyright © 2021 Active Gaming Media. All Rights Reserved
About Izanau
  • Contact Us
SiteMap
  • Articles
  • Jobs
  • Companies
  • Candidates
Terms of Use
  • For Candidates
  • For Corporations
Privacy
  • Privacy Policy
IZANAUパートナープログラム
  • 紹介会社様はこちら
IZANAUパートナープログラム
  • 外国人材を紹介したい方はこちら
Sign Up
  • For Candidates
  • For Corporations
Language
  • English
  • 日本語
  • 中文
Follow Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Izanau.