Medicine in Different Countries
Hi, I am Azuki, and I would like to share various perspectives on medical systems and treatments from different countries. I was born in Japan and grew up there until Grade 6. I then went to a boarding school in Switzerland for seven years, and I am in Canada now, studying at UBC. Through my experiences, I have seen and experienced several medical situations, depending on the country. I wanted to share some of my experiences to highlight the different medical care systems and treatments patients get in different countries.
I still remember the night I had a bad stomach ache, and my parents rashly drove to the hospital emergency room. I was around five, and I was lying down on the back seat while I crunched my back into a roll, hoping the stinging pain would subside. Curiously, the pain suddenly faded away like magic, and I was completely fine as soon as I arrived at the hospital. My parents and I were puzzled about how this happened, but reflecting now, that probably happened as I trusted the medical care in Japan, which gave me a sense of safety.
When I moved away from Japan, I occasionally utilized healthcare in Europe and Canada. However, I never felt as secure as I did back in Japan, as being an international student in both countries could feel lonely sometimes. While I enjoy studying abroad, there are times when I feel isolated, especially in the medical care environment where you are physically and mentally vulnerable without your family around. On top of these insecurities, I realized how high medical expenses can be in Europe and Canada.
One example of the differences in expenses is the fee for calling an ambulance. In Japan, calling an ambulance is free, as the fees are covered by taxes and subsidies from the government. While in Switzerland, it costs around 700 - 2100 CHF ($1077 - $3230 CAD) depending on the region of the country (Heiz, 2023). The fee also applies to Canada, which is around $80 CAD in British Columbia, with health insurance that varies throughout the provinces (CTV British Columbia, 2013). The low medical fee cost in Japan makes all kinds of treatments accessible to the public, allowing the public to feel safer about sudden accidents or illnesses.
Additionally, wait times are another thing that differs between different countries. Japan is said to have a relatively shorter wait time, and research was conducted in 2016 to learn about the wait times to get medical treatment in various countries, including Switzerland and Canada. Results suggest that Canada has the longest waiting time for their regular doctors, and in contrast, Switzerland has the shortest wait time (OECD, 2020). The longer wait times can lead to worsening symptoms and is a barrier to accessing healthcare treatments.
Although these factors may depict Japan as having better healthcare treatment than other countries, I have experienced one positive thing outside of Japan that I never really felt in Japanese healthcare, which I feel is the most crucial part of medical care. Based on my experiences, every doctor I met outside Japan seemed more genuine and compassionate about my feelings. They took time to listen and consult me, which made me feel optimistic about my situation.
While Japan has an efficient healthcare system with low costs, one thing that can be learnt from the global healthcare community is to shift their mindset towards a patient-first approach. The biggest takeaway from this cross-country comparison is that there is something to be learned from each system; countries can improve their healthcare system by learning from each other to create an environment where everyone can feel safe.
References:
CTV British Columbia. (2013, January 29). Riding on Fumes: $9 Million in unpaid Ambulance rides. CTV News. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/riding-on-fumes-9-million-in-unpaid-ambulance-rides-1.1135069
Heiz, R. (2023, March 9). Cost of calling an Ambulance – Who pays what and when?. Comparis.ch. https://en.comparis.ch/krankenkassen/leistungen/krankenwagen-ambulanz
OECD. (2020, May 28). Waiting Times for Health Services: Next in Line, OECD Health Policy Studies. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/242e3c8c-en
By Azuki Tokunaga (She/Her) | Blog Committee Member
