Enhancing Healthcare Accessibility for Foreign Visitors: eHealth clinic Shinjuku

The eHealth clinic Shinjuku has established a system to provide prompt medical care for foreign travelers who fall ill in Japan. The clinic offers both in-person and online consultations, with English and Chinese-speaking doctors available. They have specialized outpatient clinics catering to foreign travelers and can issue medical documents and receipts in English and Chinese. Additionally, they provide services such as online consultations and medication delivery to hotels. As the number of foreign visitors to Japan increases, the clinic aims to strengthen cooperation with travel, accommodation, and insurance companies to better serve the needs of foreign patients.

Today, many foreign tourists are staying in Japan. However, if they do not speak Japanese, they may experience difficulties when they fall ill. In response to this situation, eHealth clinic Shinjuku has established a response system as a “clinic where medical care can be received both in person and online” that can quickly respond to foreign travelers when they become ill.
In the future, we will also strengthen cooperation with travel, accommodation, and accident insurance companies that provide services to foreigners.

As the COVID-19 pandemic is winding down, the number of international travelers is increasing. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) announced that the number of foreign visitors to Japan in January 2023 will be approximately 1.5 million, up 120,000 from 1.37 million in December 2022. The number of foreign visitors to Japan in January 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, shows a recovery rate approaching 2.7 million.

With the increase in the number of foreign visitors and other foreign residents in Japan, the number of medical institutions accepting foreign patients who cannot speak Japanese is increasing. However, the supply has not yet caught up with the demand and medical institutions urgently need to improve their systems for accepting foreign patients.

In light of this situation, eHealth clinic Shinjuku has established a system that can respond quickly to foreign travelers who become ill as a “clinic where medical care can be received both in person and online.”

Features:
・We have English- and Chinese-speaking physicians who are readily available to provide direct assistance.
・Diagnosis forms and receipts can be issued in both English and Chinese languages.
・In addition to in-person visits, we offer online medical services and convenient drug delivery options, including delivery to hotels and other locations.
・We have established specialized outpatient clinics specifically designed for foreign travelers.
-Our outpatient services include diagnosis and treatment for various conditions such as fever (COVID-19 PCR, influenza antigen, cystitis, gastroenteritis, etc.)
-Insomnia
-Sexually transmitted diseases (testing and treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV testing)
-Erectile dysfunction (ED), and more.

eHealth clinic Shinjuku is equipped to respond quickly to foreign travelers who fall ill, allowing them to receive medical care in person or online whenever they need it. Our clinic has specialized outpatient clinics for foreign travelers, staffed directly by English- and Chinese-speaking physicians. We can issue medical certificates and receipts in English and Chinese, and provide in-person as well as online medical services and medication delivery (to hotels, etc.).

We will continue to provide flexible services that meet the needs of foreign patients and establish a system that allows them to receive medical care in Japan with peace of mind.

Hoichi Amano (M.D., MPH, PhD.)