I’m currently under the care of a doctor for mental health care in the US, and I assume that I’ll need to transfer my care to Japan (I figure that’s easier and less risky than having family ship my meds to me). What do I need, like what documents or records, do I need to bring with me to establish care with a new doctor once I arrive in Japan so I can get my medications? Also, is it difficult to find an English-speaking doctor outside Tokyo, or does it just depend on where you’re located? I have no idea where we’re moving yet.
4 comments
You should bring ***every possible document related to your care***.
Because you can’t really just “transfer” your care to Japan. It’s not as easy as walking into an office, handing them a note from your doctor at home, and getting medication/treatment. Generally speaking for a Japanese doctor to treat you they are going to want to re-diagnose you/confirm your diagnosis.
That’s why you should bring literally your entire file from your home doctor. Being able to hand your doctor in Japan your complete history makes the re-diagnosis/confirmation process much smoother and faster.
If you are struggling with mental health, moving halfway around the world may not be the best move. Japan especially has the potential to exacerbate metal health issues (depending on the situation you are moving into).
It’s certainly worth looking up whether the medication you are taking is available in Japan. In particular, there are some ADD medications that you will have a very hard time getting here, and won’t legally be allowed to carry across the border.
I have a chronic condition that requires medication that is pretty highly controlled. I brought three months supply with me, and once I got settled in made an appointment with a rheumatologist to see what my options were. I already knew the meds I took were available here, but I wasn’t sure what the process would be. The doc just wanted to look at the records from my previous doctor back home so I got them to send me copies and he confirmed my diagnosis. Once that was done it’s been quite easy to get my meds here when I need them. My only concern is that there’s a chance one day they will stop working for me and I will have to try something else but my particular condition is not common here so getting ongoing care might be challenging.