Medical Services in Japan

• If you are taken ill

Choose a hospital, clinic and/or dental clinics that can provide suitable treatment, and take your health insurance card and bring money with you when you go. Unless you are carrying your medical insurance card with you, the medical service you receive will not be covered by the insurance. It is best if you go with someone who can speak Japanese.

• Consultation hours

Consultation hours for outpatients at hospitals and clinics can vary, but most hospitals are closed on Sundays and national holidays. You should phone before you go to find out the hospital’s consultation hours, holidays and departments. If you are suddenly taken ill outside these hours or on a holiday, you should go to the nearest emergency clinic.

Unless there is appointment system, patients are seen by the doctor on a first-come, first-served basis. You may have to wait a long time when there are many patients.

• Seeing the doctor

1. Reception: Show your health insurance card at reception, explain what is wrong with you and which department you want to go to for treatment. You should then go to the appropriate department.
2. Cashier: After you have been examined, go to the cashier to pay the doctor’s fee. If you are uninsured, you will have to pay the full cost yourself.
3. Dispensary: Medicines prescribed by a doctor do not usually have directions in foreign languages, so you should have them explained to you when you pick them up.

• Emergencies

If you are suddenly seriously ill, or are hurt in an accident, dial “119” and say “kyuu kyuu desu,” which means “this is an emergency” in Japanese. Give the operator your address, name, and condition, and then wait for the ambulance. (The number to call is the same in case of fire: 119.)

日本での診療について

• あなたが病気になったとき

病院、診療所に行くときは、保険証とお金を持って、症状に応じた病院、診療所に行って下さい。保険証がないと、医療保険の適用を受けることができません。また、受診の際にはできるだけ日本語を話せる方と一緒に行った方がよいでしょう。

• 診療時間

外来患者の診察時間は病院・診療所により異なりますが、通常、日曜、祝日は休診ですので、診療科目、休診日、診療時間を電話で確認してから行って下さい。休診日、時間外の急病には近くの休日夜間急病診療所に行ってください。

受診の順番は、予約制の場合を除き、通常、当日の受付順になります。患者が多いと待ち時間が長いこともあるので、時間の余裕を持って行ってください。

• 受診の手順

1. 受付・診察：受付に健康保険証を提出し、どこが悪いか、何科で診療を受けたいのかを伝え、どの診察室に行くのか指示を受けます。
2. 会計：診察、治療などが終わったら、会計で診察料を払います。医療保険等の適用のない方は、全て自己負担となります。
3. 薬局：通常、薬には外国語の説明がありませんので、もらうときには十分な説明を受けて下さい。

• 救急

重篤な病気や負傷で緊急に医療を受ける必要があるときは、119番へ電話をし、日本語で「救急です」と言ってから、居所、氏名、病状等を告げ、救急隊の到着を待っていて下さい。（119番は火災の通報と同じ番号です。）