Japan's New Tourist Attraction - Hospitals

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: 'Medical tours' could inject new life into Japan's tourism industry
A vacation to Japan often means touring ancient sites, relaxing in onsen hot springs and maybe playing a little golf. So, how about throwing in a visit to a hospital?..."Visit Gunma Prefecture and experience a complete medical checkup at a cutting-edge medical facility, followed by counseling," the brochure reads. "Then unwind at Japan's renowned Kusatsu Onsen hot spring resort"...Whether or not "health" will ever be an attraction for tourists is really anyone's guess. It also remains unclear how many tourists Japan's medical facilities will be able to accommodate, and what kind of follow-up care is available...more...

[Gilligan]

Personally, I can't see this ever having a significant impact on the tourist industry. First of all, my impression is that most people from industrialized countries, espcially those people who have not spent much time abroad, feel that the medical care in their own country is the best. Secondly, most industrialized countries, with the notable exception of the US, have some form of national health care system making health care in their own countries far cheaper than it would be in some other country. And finally, in countries where people might think Japan's health care system is superior to their own, i.e., non-industrialized countries, most of those people probably don't have the money to come here.

[Jack]

Well, if the nurses in Japan look even half as good as that hottie in the picture, sign me up. Hospitals in Canada are places of last resort. They are extremely utilitarian where black and white TV is considered a luxury. I was told that in comparison with Canada Japan's hospitals are like 5-star hotels. And, yes, in Canada too people think we have the best health care system in the world. Poor ignorants we are...

[Buraku]

Nurse nabbed for abducting infant says she doesn't know how girl injured head
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060908p2a00m0na019000c.html

A nurse under arrest for abducting a 2-year-old girl from a plaza said she was torn between taking the child to hospital and back to where she found her after the girl showed symptoms of exhaustion, police said.