Look To Japan On Health

[Guile]

[japslapper]

I know the "data" on the Japanese Health systems suggests that it is excellent. However experince tells me there has to be some serious fudging of numbers on the Japanese side.

For instance Japan has no central patient record service unlike the UK,Canada or Aus and its emergency services are very strange. Training for medical professionals in Japan is also worrying - I mean they dont "think" - do they.

The times I have been ill in Japan all I can say about my treatment is "bizarre". (I have an MS in medicalbiology - I know my stuff) ... they hand out medicines for the sake of it ....

All that glisters is not gold as they say:wink:

[Taro Toporific]

I know the "data" on the Japanese Health systems suggests that it is excellent. However experince tells me there has to be some serious fudging of numbers on the Japanese side.
All that glisters is not gold as they say:wink:

Japanese can claim "universal" and "cheap" coverage: I give the buggers that.
Quality? It's wildly uneven but tends toward the bad here as J-slapper says (I used to be an EMT and ME assistant).

Canadian Health used to be MUCH better, but it's 20 years since I've contact with the Canadian system.

Taro, a handicapped American forced to live in health insurance exile

[Taro Toporific]

Nadeem Esmail, Senior Health Policy Analyst & Manager, Health Data Systems, The Fraser Institute / Release Date : September 9, 2004
The Japanese health care system is arguably one of the very best

Here's a funny image of a writer in love with the Japanese health system---he cites one of the biggest problems Japan has, underused "hospitals" (actually homemade clinics). He mistakenly points to this massive fraud as an ideal to aspire to, sheesh.

One hospital bed for 1,100 Indians!
123Bharath.com,
India News > New Delhi, Nov 18 : India has only one hospital bed for 1,100 patients compared to Japan that has a ratio of one bed for 75 people. ... ...more...

YIKES, 1,100 Indians in one bed! :P

[Watcher]

Having experienced both systems I will say that they have their good and bad points. On the positive side they are both public and there weren't too many folks that I met without some sort of coverage (just the odd gaijin who'd be really fucked if something were to happen). On the negative side I've heard horror stories about gross incompetence in both countries... more often in Japan. Right now the Canadian system is having major issues with waiting times for operations and those who can't wait and can afford it financially are running to the States.

Advantage, sadly, Japan.

BTW I'd still rather have my future baby born here than Japan. The JGirl would rather have it there then here in Canada. Whatever. Anybody have any babies in Japan? How was the experience?