Job Discussion Forums

[LookingForESLWork]

I'm looking at coming to Taiwan to teach ESL. My question has to do with health-based prohibitions against foreign teachers.

I am middle-aged and an experienced teacher.

My health issues are:

1. diabetes -- I take insulin and pills for this.

2. I also take medication to keep my blood pressure and cholesterol down.

I have plenty of energy and am a hard worker, but I am concerned about laws that may prohibit me from coming to Taiwan to teach because of these health issues.

Does anyone know the answer or know where I could look online to find the answer?

Thanks.

[clark.w.griswald]

In order to obtain legal work here in Taiwan you would need to undergo a health check. As far as I can determine, this check is aimed at identifying communicable diseases. The Taiwan government was infamous some years ago for a remark made by a rather senior health official who openly declared that �AIDS was a foreigners disease�, and that locals need not be concerned with the disease provided that they didn�t sleep with foreigners.

The health test is divided into three parts.

Part A � The health check. This involves basic blood pressure, pulse, height, weight, and eyesight measurements, coupled with a cursory locomotor and physical appearance �test�. It is really a case of tick the boxes, and provided that you don�t fail on your blood pressure you should do fine. I don�t know if one can really �fail� the blood pressure test, but if your figures were particularly high it may be cause for concern.

Part B � Laboratory tests. This involves the drawing of blood and the giving of a urine sample. The tests conducted are largely for HIV, Hepatitis, and drug usage. A stool sample is not required for English teachers in Taipei, but there are varying reports of this requirement around the island. The stool test is for internal parasites.

Part C � Lung x-ray. This is for tuberculosis mainly.

I am unsure as to whether your medication would show up on the blood test, and you may want to check this with your local doctor as it may be misinterpreted by the authorities here. Although they don�t specifically look for diabetes on the tests, I have no idea whether this would somehow show up on your blood work.

Your application for a work permit would not be approved if you �failed� the medical, but it isn�t clear to me whether your medical conditions would show up in the testing that is done. They are not looking for these things, and therefore it is possible that you could get through. You could confirm all of this with your local doctor before you come.

I think that you should consider whether you should come to Taiwan. Although the hospitals here are quite reasonable and cheap for minor injuries and illnesses, I don�t think that you would want to have a serious injury or illness here. Although the doctors seem quite well trained, I can�t say the same for the other hospital staff including nurses and ambulance drivers. There is far less awareness here among the general public regarding First Aid techniques, and you certainly wouldn�t want to have complications here as you could quite likely be left laying on the street until the ambulance arrives to take you to hospital. I would invest in some sort of tag or identification written in Chinese informing people of your conditions and advising people what to do if you pass out.

[Pop Fly]

[Girl Scout]

Two teachers I worked with had diabetes, both used insulin. The insulin does and will show up in the blood test. There were no problems with the employer about their medical status. Your co-workers on the other hand may bit a bit squemish. This happened with one of the girl co-workers.

I suggest you tell your employer up front. Generally if they do not want to hire you because of this you probably would not find it a good work enviroment anyway. Keep all medicines away from the students, especially if they are young. These people have some wierd ideas about medicine and health care. Make sure you know how you are going to get more supplies while you are here. One of the teachers was having his shipped from America.

Also be aware there is a big change of diet when you get here. Both teachers ended up in the hospital overnight as their bodies readjusted to the diet.

Welcome to Taiwan

[clark.w.griswald]

[Ki]

I can verify that new teachers do NOT need to take the urine test. Not just teachers renewing their contracts. I won't however guarantee anything as this could possibly change and could vary according to locale. Two years ago a stool sample was also needed but this is no longer the case either.

[Ki]

Also, they don't test for all drugs. Probably only heroin and cocain. But don't blame me if you do get caught out.

[Aristotle]

Yes, there are major concerns about health issues. People have been deported and will continue to be deported for having been infected on Taiwan with any one of a number of diseases including AIDS/HIV any STD or most diseases that can be transmitted through sexual contact. Hepatitis is also on the list of illegal diseases so wide wide spread in Taiwan some estimate that nearly half the population has been exposed.

[markholmes]

What's a decease? Is that something you catch after your dead?

[Fortigurn]

[clark.w.griswald]

Well it does appear that with all the changes recently that the urine test is no longer required for new teachers either. This makes sense as I always thought that it was silly to be testing us for drugs that are no doubt readily available here anyway. It's not as if it is a contagious disease that could be given to others.

[killian]

yo, aristotle-

what did that certain radio personality nicknamed after a candy get the boot for? i forget but have little doubt that such is safely stored in your files for moments such as this.

cheers.

[Aristotle]

[clark.w.griswald]

[killian]

he had been in taiwan for decades. he got sick in taiwan. he was deported for his illness. his life was uprooted based upon hearsay and race bias. he was cured of his illness by the time he was deported.