We have created the documents (explanations and sample forms) below to help foreign residents in Japan to receive medical care and/or to maintain their health, without confusion caused by the differences in languages and custom. Each document is available in PDF file in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese, which is intended for both professional and individual use. (The documents in the section of "For Keeping Your Mind in Good Health" are translated not only in the above languages, but also in Thai, Vietnum, Korean and Filipino.)
We also want to make this page better to meet your needs. Please send us your feedback to amdack@nifty.com
Last updated in March, 2002. Contents may be revised upon any changes of the system.

• To Avoid Confusion at the Outpatient Facility
  

  General procedures for outpatient care at medical facilities	In a large hospital having several departments, you may not be sure where to go and what to do. This is especially so if you do not speak Japanese well. Here, you can see the general procedures for outpatient care in medical facilities in Japan.
  	English, Japanese
  Registration Form (sample form)	The first thing to do on your first visit at the medical facility is to fill out a registration form.
  	English (including Japanese translation)
  A Medical Consultation Fee Statement/Receipt (sample form)	This is an example of the statement which will be given to you upon completing payment at the cashier.
  	English (including Japanese translation)

• To Maintain Your Health
  

  A list of Medical Examination Items	Common medical examination items are listed with their descriptions. Fill out your values to check your physical conditions.
  	English (including Japanese translation)
  Vaccinations for Children	You can download the following information directly from this website : "Health and Immunization for Children" on the website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Burean of Social Welfare and Public Health. If you click here, you will be able to download the "cover" in PDF file. If you click here, you can download the following information in PDF file. "Let's get immunized" "What is immunization? Vaccine?" "Target diseases of immunization and its side effects----Polio, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough (Pertussis), Tetanus, Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, Tuberculosis" If you click here, you can download the following information in PDF file. "Kinds of vaccine" "Effectiveness of immunization" "Appropriate ages for immunization" "Important steps to consider before immunization" "Others" "Immunization Q and A" "Immunization Questionnaire" Here are vaccination schedules for children in Japan and an example of a pre-examination form that the parent has to fill out prior to each vaccination.

  Tuberculosis Guide

  Here is a description about tuberculosis including "What You Need To Know About Tuberculosis (An Outline of TB)", "Treatment to prevent TB Disease", "Treatment of TB Disease", "Check-up for TB Patients, "Health Check-ups for Family and Colleagues", "The Hokensho, (Public) Health Center Supports You", "Medicine for TB", and "References" This document was originally prepared by the Osaka Prefectural Office for their residents.Prior consent is obtained from the office to post the document here.

  What You Need To Know About Tuberculosis (An Outline of TB)	English, Japanese
  Treatment to prevent TB Disease	English, Japanese
  Treatment of TB Disease	English, Japanese
  Check-up for TB Patients	English, Japanese
  Health Check-ups for Family and Colleagues	English, Japanese
  The Hokensho, (Public) Health Center Supports You	English, Japanese
  Medicine for TB", and "References	English, Japanese
  References	English, Japanese

• For Keeping Your Mind in Good Health
  

  How can you manage your stress?	Many of you feel various kinds of stresses in your daily life. Here are instructions on what is stress like and how you can manage it. This document is from the brochure: "For Keeping Your Mind and Body in Good Health" edited by our center and published by Osaka Pref in the Osaka Pref-NPO cooperative project.
  	English, Japanese
  Welfare activities for mental patients (will be UP soon)	Here is the information about welfare activities useful to mental patients, who have troubles with daily life, job, or human relations in various environments.
  Documents in relation to the notification for hospitalization at a mental hospital	These documents provide information rogarding the treatment of hospitalized mentally disabled people. The hospital is obliged to give all mentioned information to the patients.
  	English, Japanese

• To Pay Medical Expenses in Japan
  

  National Health Insurance Scheme	This is a Japanese public insurance plan with foreign residents who plan to stay in Japan one year or more can enter.
  	English, Japanese
  Employees' Health Insurance Scheme	This insurance is for those who work for a company or organization which has joined an Employees' Health Insurance plan.
  	English, Japanese
  Medications Fees (will be UP soon)	Here is a description of the calculation formula of prescribed medication fees.
  Labor Insurance	For injuries on duty, sickness due to working, accidents while commuting, the Labor Insurance is applied, instead of your company's insurance scheme or the National Health Insurance Program, irrespective of nationality and visa. Here, we discuss about coverage of the Labor Insurance and procedures to follow.
  	English, Japanese

This page has been created as a joint project of KOBE Ethnic Minorities' Support Network in cooperation with the Japan Foundation.