Medical tourism from China – a lifesaver for struggling Japanese hospitals?

Japan is working hard at promoting medical tourism in the country for Chinese tourists, with the government recently deciding to grant visas for reasons such as medical stay in the country – separate from a typical tourism visa in the country.

Medical tourism in Japan usually costs between €1,500 and €7,500 per trip, and brings substantial revenue to Japanese hospitals. With the Japanese population shrinking and urbanisation at an all-time high, regional hospitals that struggle to break even are considering medical tourism to Japan as a potential lifesaver – filling empty hospital beds and increasing demand for more advanced treatments.

Medical Excellence Japan, a body with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, is responding to the increasing proliferation of medical tourism by certifying local companies wishing to serve foreign patients. Hospitals are also working closely with tourism agencies that provide services surrounding the actual hospital care, for example interpretation, transportation, and accommodation.

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Source: The Japan Times

Photo: flickr