Working as a docotr in Japan

[eemaan]

Hi, my husband is a Gp and we've been thinking about moving to Japan in the future at some point. I just wondered how hard (or easy) it would be for him to be a doctor in Japan? I assume he would have to pass some kind of exam so that he was up to date with Japanese medical practice, but would he be able to be a doctor for english speaking patients, or would he have to learn all the Japanese terminology and become fluent in Japanese before he would be allowed to work?
Also does any one know what the salary would be like?

Sory for all the odd questions!
TIA!

[Mike Cash]

He would have to pass a national licensing exam. I have no idea if it is offered in any language other than Japanese. If I had to make a guess, I would guess that it is not.

Relevant sections of the pertinent law (医師法):

第三章　試験

第九条 　医師国家試験は、臨床上必要な医学及び公衆衛生に関して、医師として具有すべき知識及び技能について、こ れを行う。

第十条 　医師国家試験及び医師国家試験予備試験は、毎年少くとも一回、厚生労働大臣が、これを行う。
２ 　厚生労働大臣は、医師国家試験又は医師国家試験予備試験の科目又は実施若しくは合格者の決定の方法を定め ようとするときは、あらかじめ、医道審議会の意見を聴かなければならない。

第十一条 　医師国家試験は、左の各号の一に該当する者でなければ、これを受けることができない。
一 　学校教育法 （昭和二十二年法律第二十六号）に基づく大学（以下単に「大学」という。）において、医学の正規の課程を修 めて卒業した者
二 　医師国家試験予備試験に合格した者で、合格した後一年以上の診療及び公衆衛生に関する実地修 練を経たもの
三 　外国の医学校を卒業し、又は外国で医師免許を得た者で、厚生労働大臣が前二号に掲げる者と同等以上の学力 及び技能を有し、且つ、適当と認定したもの

第十二条 　医師国家試験予備試験は、外国の医学校を卒業し、又は外国で医師免許を得た者のうち、前条第三号に該当し ない者であつて、厚生労働大臣が適当と認定したものでなければ、これを受けることができない。

[Glenski]

Just being a G.P. is not enough. Unless he worked on a U.S. military base, how would he be able to treat English-only patients and make a living? He would also need enough knowledge of Japanese to communicate with other staff (including nurses, orderlies, and doctors), to read and write prescriptions and charts, etc., ad nauseum.

[nice gaijin]

I once taught English to a cardiovascular surgeon that was going to the states to work in an American hospital as some sort of guest resident, mainly to learn about new techniques being developed in the field. Something like this would be easier to do, if your husband were into a specialized field, and could speak Japanese. Working as a GP... I suppose you could live in a place like Yokohama and cater to the foreign population there... but I'd guess that fluency in Japanese would still be required, because he'll have to be able to prescribe medication and deal with insurance.

Does he have a professional goal in moving to Japan, or did you just want to move there, and use his practice to support yourselves?

[Mike Cash]

Another problem is that there is really no such thing as a General Practitioner in Japan. Everybody is a specialist of some sort.

[eemaan]

yes we were thinkin of moving there and hoping he could continue to work out there to support us, he is also an A&E specialist, but he definitely need to learn Japanese!
Thanks for all the replies everyone.!

[Glenski]

Here is a discussion thread about this topic, including advice by someone who passed the Japanese national exam and has been practicing here.
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+9106

A Nov., 2007 article (from several sources, but this one seems to provide the longest description) on Japan considering a "special zone" in Niigata for foreign doctors to practice. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8SPH8M80&show_article=1 Note the following excerpt: "Under the plan, foreign doctors with work experience in their home countries and who have studied or been trained in Japan would be enabled through necessary law revisions to treat patients at key rural hospitals in Japan.

If realized, the proposed deregulatory zone allowing service by doctors without Japanese medical licenses would be the first of its kind in Japan, prefectural officials said. "

[Mike Cash]

Here is a discussion thread about this topic, including advice by someone who passed the Japanese national exam and has been practicing here.
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+9106


Too bad he didn't give his name.

I doubt the OP's husband has the advantage of having grown up in Japan and having a head start on the language that way.