The short answer: Hopefully it’ll never happen — but if it does, you’ll be in excellent hands and afterwards you won’t be handed a massive bill for treatment.
And now for a much longer answer…
Taiwan is a densely populated island, so you’re never far from a hospital or a clinic. Many major hospitals belong to the government, others are owned by not-for-profit organisations, and a few are private enterprises. Smaller medical facilities are almost always private businesses, often with a single doctor who usually specialises (such as dermatology, ENT, pediatrics, or internal medicine). Many doctors understand a good amount of English, having studied English-language textbooks during their training. If you end up seeing one who isn’t good at English, don’t worry: the translation function on their or your smartphone will come to your rescue!
The doctor will see you now (really!)
For everyday problems like catching a bad cold or a skin rash, it’s not necessary to make an appointment. For something more complex or unusual, it’s better to go to a larger hospital and — depending on how bad you feel — start in the emergency room (what British people call A&E) or ask at the information desk about seeing a specialist. For smaller clinics, you can roll up during opening hours, take a number, and the doctor will see you in due course. On weekeday mornings it’s unusual to have to wait for more than an hour. The great majority of clinics have their own pharmacist, so you can pick up your prescription at the same place.
All Taiwanese citizens and resident foreigners are enrolled in the country’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system. They pay a monthly premium according to their income, and that covers most of the cost of each visit to a doctor or dentist (licensed herbalists and acupuncturists are included in the scheme) and also surgery and complex long-term treatments. As a tourist, you’ll have to self pay, of course; major hospitals now accept credit and debit cards but at smaller facilities you should be ready to handover cash. Including a three- or five-day course of medicine, seeing a doctor at a clinic or a small hospital isn’t likely to cost you over USD$100 (GBP74).
I know what you’re saying to yourself: ‘The cost isn’t important. My travel insurance will cover that. What’s important is the quality of treatment.’
Taiwanese doctors are expected to see a lot of patients each day, so consultations tend to be very rapid and direct, sometimes lasting less than five minutes. The upside, of course, is your can get your medicine and resume your tour without much of a delay. According to recent data, Taiwanese people enjoy longer lifespans on average than Americans, and are just behind residents of the UK, Australia, and Canada. Given that a good number of them smoke and/or drink, avoid exercise, and work too hard — and eat more of the country’s delicious street food than they should — this suggests that the healthcare system is generally very good. Even if you’re getting on in years or aren’t as mobile as you once were, fear that you’ll be far from decent treatment options shouldn’t stop you from visiting East Asia’s best destination.
It’s possible your problem doesn’t need a doctor at all. If it’s merely a case of sunburn, a bad headache, or run-of-the-mill diarrhoea, try a drugstore. Many international visitors report positive experiences with the Great Tree chain of chemists, saying that branches are well stocked and staffed by helpful professionals. Online maps can point you to the nearest branch.
Keep your paperwork
If you are forced to make a hospital visit and you plan to seek reimbursement from your travel insurance when you get home, ask the doctor for an English-language medical certificate and an itemised receipt. At very small clinics this may not be possible, and at hospitals you may be told to go to a particular office on a different floor to get the document; just say that you need something so you can make an insurance claim and someone will help you get what you need.
Falling sick in a foreign country can be stressful, but all in all Taiwan is actually one of the best places in the world for this to happen.
Some health-related tips
If you need to bring prescription medications to Taiwan, keep them in their original bottles with a copy of your prescription. This will avoid issues at customs and make it easier to obtain the same medicine during your trip if need arises.
Taiwan is an exciting place to explore but don’t overdo it. Maybe you’ve no more than a week but you want to cram in as much as you can. Self-driving visitors should remember that even though distances might appear short on maps, getting from A to B can take a lot of time either because of heavy traffic or winding mountain roads. The best way to protect yourself from getting over-tired or some kind of mishap (such as dining at an eatery where food-hygiene standards leave something to be desired) is to explore Taiwan with an experienced driver-guide. We at Life of Taiwan have more than 14 years’ experience designing itineraries for discerning travellers interested in the island’s culture, history, and natural wonders.
For those interested in the development of health care in Taiwan, we can suggest a few places to include in a customised private guided tour of Taiwan. In central Taipei, the National Taiwan University Museum of Medical Humanities covers the role of missionary doctors (such as Tamsui-based George L. Mackay) and opium policy during the 1895-1945 period of Japanese colonial rule.
In the quaint little town of Houbi (between Tainan and Chiayi) there’s a superbly preserved traditional Chinese herbal medicine clinic. If you visit with someone who reads Chinese, they’ll be able to decipher some of the labels on the drawers and bottles: ‘dried land dragon’ is in fact eviscerated earthworms, a painkiller and old-time treatment for certain kinds of arthritis; dried stems of Perilla frutescens, a relative of mint, were used to cure for stomach cramps and vomiting; while spider brake (the herb of a fern) was thought to be an effective against nosebleeds and as a detoxicant.
Not far from Houbi, the Blackfoot Disease Socio-Medical Service Memorial Hall celebrates the efforts of a physician who spent his life helping those suffering from a form or arsenic poisoning due to local water contamination. Now, it goes without saying, the water throughout Taiwan is clean enough to drink — but like most people in Taiwan we usually drink bottled water because it tastes better.
Thinking of visiting one of Asia’s safest, most diverse, and most fascinating societies? Contact us today and get the ball rolling!