Do I need to make an appointment to see a doctor in Japan? What materials do I need to prepare for the appointment?

There is still a big difference between Japan and China. From the website of Intimate Health, we can learn that:

In Japan, if you feel unwell, you will usually choose a nearby hospital or clinic first. If the condition is serious, the medical institution will recommend the patient to a large comprehensive "specific function hospital" in this area (similar to China 3A hospital).

This will greatly reduce the waste of medical resources, and there will be no phenomenon that everyone will be crowded into big hospitals when they encounter problems. This is also because the level of medical care and services in Japan is generally high.

Therefore, if you want to go to Japan to see a doctor, you must first look at what kind of hospital you are in. If you go to a public hospital, you should make an appointment. Some hospitals don't even accept personal appointments and need referral letters from other hospitals.

So what are the procedures for going to Japan to see a doctor, besides making an appointment in advance? Or refer to the content on Intimate Health website:

Process 1: Find a suitable hospital according to the condition. When looking for Japanese hospitals, both hospitals and doctors need to know something about the Japanese medical system, which will make it easier to find hospitals. Unlike China, Japan implements graded diagnosis and treatment, which means that the Japanese go to the clinic first, and the clinic can't cure it, and then the doctor writes a letter of introduction to small and medium-sized hospitals or large hospitals. This is a gradual journey. Foreigners who go to Japan for medical treatment will choose large hospitals, which are divided into university affiliated hospitals and some specialized hospitals.

Affiliated hospitals of universities are generally very strong, especially in Japan. Other specialized hospitals are also famous. Japanese pay more attention to family honor. Therefore, most of these specialized hospitals are private family hospitals, which have a long history and are no worse than affiliated hospitals.

China's best hospitals are top three hospitals, while Japanese hospitals have specific functions. Certified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, which manages health care in Japan. These affiliated hospitals and specialized hospitals all have hospitals with specific functions.

Therefore, when looking for a hospital, you don't have to stare at those affiliated hospitals, but also take into account specialized hospitals. The most important thing is to find a hospital that suits your condition and ensure the best treatment.

Process 2: It is very important to sort out the case information, because the more detailed the pathological information, the easier it is to contact the hospital when you go to Japan to see a doctor. After confirming doctors and patients in Japan, it is necessary to translate their medical records, imaging materials and medication history into Japanese. These medical records must be as complete as possible without translation errors, otherwise the hospital may be misdiagnosed or diagnosed.

Therefore, when translating medical records, we must find a professional translator, preferably a medical translator, or through a Japanese medical institution.

Process 3: Submit the materials to Japanese hospitals for review.

After the medical record translation is completed, the materials will be submitted to the Japanese hospital for review, and the Japanese hospital will decide whether to accept it according to the material information. If the receipt is confirmed, the hospital will follow up the appointment information and confirm the time of seeing a doctor.

Then you can start the visa application process. After determining the time of seeing a doctor, decide whether to apply for a tourist visa or a medical visa according to the length of the time of seeing a doctor. The tourist visa is simple and quick, and you can stay in Japan for 15 days. The medical visa is relatively troublesome, but the stay in Japan is long. To apply for a Japanese medical visa, you must hold a "treatment plan issued by a medical institution and a body guarantee issued by a body guarantee institution".

Similar to the letter of guarantee, the body guarantee must be issued by an enterprise with the qualification of Japan's international medical body guarantee, and the Japanese body guarantee institution should also bear the responsibility.

Medical visa can be divided into multiple times, and the maximum stay time for a single time is 3 months. If you want to return to China after 3 months, you need to apply again. Multiple visas are valid for up to 3 years, with multiple round trips within 3 years.

Process 4: After you leave for Japan to see a doctor and get a visa, you can go to the Japanese hospital according to the appointment date. Before departure, you need to bring your passport, visa application form, photo, identity certificate, copy of household registration book, temporary residence permit, re-entry qualification certificate and treatment reservation form.

You can go when you are ready. Of course, if you go to Japan for medical treatment, many procedures will be done well, so don't worry, it's more worry-free and labor-saving.