Inpatient treatment in Japan

In ASEAN countries, medical tourism is thriving in leading healthcare nations like Singapore and Thailand, where patients from other countries seek treatment. These leader countries not only attract international patients but also expand their medical influence by dispatching their doctors to hospitals and clinics abroad and collaborating with medical institutions in other countries to meet the growing demands of patients.

On the other hand, the number of patients from various Asian countries coming to Japan for medical treatment is gradually increasing, but not significantly. As per the available statistics from 2017, the annual issuance of medical visas has not exceeded 1,400 cases, with nearly 90% of these patients coming from China and Russia, followed by a little over 4% from Vietnam.

The challenges foreign patients face when seeking medical care in Japan include the distance to travel, language barriers, the readiness of medical institutions for foreign patients, and the need for a guarantor organization for visa applications.

However, as long as there is an aspiration for Japanese medical care, overcoming these constraints can lead to smooth implementation of hospital treatment in Japan. We are contemplating how to efficiently welcome more patients from ASEAN and are committed to creating an optimal system.

Additionally, for conditions that can be treated without a medical visa, such as day surgeries, we plan to arrange treatment and consultation at appropriate medical institutions in collaboration with medical facilities in the respective countries.