Hospitals - Japan

In the Japanese health care system, healthcare services, including free screening examinations for particular diseases, prenatal care, and infectious disease control, are provided by national and local governments. Payment for personal medical services is offered through a universal health care insurance system that provides relative equality of access, with fees set by a government committee. People without insurance through employers can participate in a national health insurance program administered by local governments. Patients are free to select physicians or facilities of their choice. It is compulsory to be enrolled in a Japanese insurance program if you are a resident of Japan.

Japanese healthcare providers are predominantly private hospitals and physicians. Hospitals must, by law, operate as not-for-profit entities. About 80% of hospitals are private, physician-owned, and 20% are large, public, state-owned teaching hospitals. Both hospitals and clinics treat outpatients, and patients can choose where they want to undergo treatment. All doctors in Japan are paid the same fee for each service. The healthcare available in Japan is comparable to that in other industrialized nations. Urban Japanese medical facilities are well equipped, and Japan boasts the highest ratio of CT and MRI scanners per capita than any other country.

Hospitals of Japan work under the guidance of health care system offering various health care services. The national and the local governments provide these services. General hospitals in Japan play a more prominent role in delivery of good health services mostly to the elders. Most of the hospitals in Japan are limited to major cities only. There are about 1000 comprehensive hospitals, around 8,700 general hospitals and 1000 mental hospitals in Japan. These hospitals provide both out-patient and in-patient care.Yet after medical revolution the rural areas of Japan still face shortage of adequate medical facilities. The specialized hospitals in Japan are mainly located in the major cities. Akagi-kohgen hospital is a psychiatric hospital that is located in the heartland of Japan. This hospital is specialized hospital in the treatment of alcoholism and is one of the famous hospitals of Japan. Other specialized hospitals and the most famous ones are Akashi Tsuchiyama hospital (Psychiatric), Chiba University hospital, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, International Medical Center, Japan Red Cross Naqoya First Hospital, Osaka university hospital and U.S. Naval hospital are few. Some English speaking hospitals are listed below:

Hiroshima University Hospital
1-2-3 Kasumi-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima
Tel: (082) 251-1111
http://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/med/ibyou/main.htm

Mazda Co. Ltd., Mazda Hospital
2-15 Aosaki-Minami, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima
Tel: (082) 282-1111
Website: http://hospital.mazda.co.jp

Kobe Adventist Hospital
4-1 Arinodai 8-chome, Kita-ku, Kobe
Tel: (078) 981-0161

Kobe Central Municipal Hospital (Kobe Chuo Shimin Byoin)
4-6 Minatojima-Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe
Tel: (078) 302-4321
http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/18/menu07/simin

Kyoto City Hospital (Kyoto Shiritsu Byoin)
1-2 Higashi Takada-cho, Mibu, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: (075) 311-5311
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/hokenfukushi/siritubyoin/index.html

Japan Red Cross Hospital (Nihon Sekijyuji Byoin)
5-53 Fudegasaki-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka
Tel: (06) 6771-5131
Website: http://www.osaka-med.jrc.or.jp/index.html