Pharmacies, drugmakers take steps to better serve foreigners

So there’s a way for a few companies to make money over “English”during the Olympics.

This is news?

Pharmacies would be best served by importing medications that actually are effective if they want "foreign" customers to purchase their products. Japan is not a country that self-medicates, and folks here have no idea what to buy.

I can not recall the last time I ever bought any medicine at a Japanese pharmacy. The doses are way too weak, and cost far too much. Cheaper to go to the hospital and use my insurance!

I find pharmacy instructions pretty easy to understand although, it shouldn't be so difficult for them to translate the instructions into junior high school English, "take one pill at breakfast, lunch and dinner" Most other country's people can understand basic English. It's only the Japanese who have no comprehension of a language that most people studied for ten years in Jr/Sr high and college or university. (roll eyes)

However, the real problem is before you get to the pharmacy. Going to a Japanese clinic is a flipping nightmare! Each clinic only treats a specific field of medicine and unless they have pictures stating which field they treat the average foreigner has no chance of understanding it. Once you have found the right clinic you then have to go through the paperwork which includes an extremely baffling and 100% Japanese allergy checklist and medical history. A mistake on this form could cost you your life. Then, there is also the point of no appointments. Foreign people would not realise you have to go there and just sit and wait until your turn comes around, which could take 3-4 hours depending on how busy the clinic is. Foreigners also need to know that, hospitals do not treat out-patients. You can't just rock up to a hospital and expect to get treated. You have to be referred from a clinic, if you can find the right clinic for your ailment in the first place. It's a nightmare for foreigners!

Finally, Japan thinks of printing English on their medications.....

Foreigners also need to know that, hospitals do not treat out-patients. You can't just rock up to a hospital and expect to get treated. You have to be referred from a clinic, if you can find the right clinic for your ailment in the first place. It's a nightmare for foreigners!

Long story short here, you are mixing up a small grain of truth to come to a generalization of the overall system

In my opinion the problem is that in Japan you can't buy even regular fever medicine to self-treat a cold. The doses are way too low in the ones sold freely. Also in the so-called drug stores herbal medicines are side by side with the rare real medication obscuring what is actually effective treatment. It's necessary to control drugs but rules in Japan seem too strict.

People say Jansen doses are too low and the meds, too weak.

Its interesting considering in the States they will prescribe you heroin (opioids) if you are feeling sad, coke (Ritalin)if you lack attention spans, and a comfort dog (woof)if you are feeling lonely.

safety and security of medicines for customers

using the term "customers" suggests the drug industry is a business, not to help patients recover. Maybe bad translation?

totally agree with @disillusioned. But there are moves to introduce a GP system similar to the U.K., which may improve things. Pharmisists who can't understand English is worrying as most medical research is done in English.

You can't just rock up to a hospital and expect to get treated. You have to be referred from a clinic

Mmm actually yes, you could. You just need to pay a 5000 yen fee for not having a referral but they'll treat you. That's one of the things I like about the Japanese med system (not the fee). The only hospital I've ever needed a referral was the cancer center.

You can't just rock up to a hospital and expect to get treated. You have to be referred from a clinic, if you can find the right clinic for your ailment in the first place. It's a nightmare for foreigners!

Untrue, you can just rock up and expect to get treated at a general hospital.

im curious to know how many of these people who state you can just walk into a hospital have actually done it. I’ve been turned away from three ‘general’ hospitals. Once I was turned away in extreme agony with a herniated disc in my back. They refused to see me and told me I had to go to a local clinic, even though I virtually crawled into the hospital.

Sanno hospital in Aoyama (sanchome? Can't remember the exact station) will not turn you away. They even have translators if you need one. St. Luke hospital didn't turn me away either (tho I called them ahead of time just to make sure and no English). Two other hospitals I went to in Shinjuku treated me without referrals but I can't tell you the names for sure as I don't remember them.

Call them or check their websites before you go.

I think there’s types of hospitals in Japan and some will never see anyone who pops in because they only take scheduled surgeries.

Any place that asks you for a “Shokaijo” you will have to have a doctors letters before even asking about doing a procedure.

Step 1 Go to ur general practitioner and obtain the Shokaijo paper, then take that to the hospital.

For AandE during opening hours, you will never be turned away. Out of hours you have to visit one that is open 24hrs. For specialized treatment you need a referral. Clinics have their own system, and hours depending on the owner.

I'm not going to criticize here. ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING, that they do here to think of how to make foreigners' lives better is good news no matter how small.

im curious to know how many of these people who state you can just walk into a hospital have actually done it. I’ve been turned away from three ‘general’ hospitals. Once I was turned away in extreme agony with a herniated disc in my back. They refused to see me and told me I had to go to a local clinic, even though I virtually crawled into the hospital.

So from your limited experience with the literally thousands of hospitals in Japan you make a general statement that (Which is blatantly false)

Foreigners also need to know that, hospitals do not treat out-patients. You can't just rock up to a hospital and expect to get treated. You have to be referred from a clinic, if you can find the right clinic for your ailment in the first place. It's a nightmare for foreigners!

The major cities have hotlines and information available for people who need medical assistance. Yes there are some places that won't see you, but even you stated you went to three, so that tells me you didnt do your homework and check what options you had available.

There is a load of information in English on the internet.

So ... they're going to legalize weed?

Luckily for me being in Japanese is not a problem. I just wish Japan would have a better range of medications and stronger doses. That would also be convenient for foreigners. :P

If you need medical care or assistance, it's there, folks just have to use their heads and let their fingers do the walking through google!

I am very familiar with hospitals, but never worked in clinics. If you are a foreigner, go to the biggest hospital, like Red Cross etc. always support. High skill.