Job Discussion Forums

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

My understanding is that during the medical they ask you about any prior medical conditions. I've had some high blood pressure and heart rate readings (also some normal ones). I'm not overly concerned about it from a health standpoint; when I've had them, I've asked the doctors if I needed any medicine or treatment, and they've said no. I just keep an eye on it.

But if the doctor asked me in an interview, I wouldn't hide the readings for various reasons, including issues of medical disclosure. Does anyone have any idea whether that would disqualify me from getting the visa?

Thx .... Mep

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

The question is on the form. Written like 'have you ever suffered from or been diagnosed with...' Also they do check your blood pressure. Tick no, it's the Taiwan way.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

What do they do at the medical check?

LKJ · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 57

1. Brief conversation with a doctor about your medical history.
2. Weight and height measurements.
3. Blood pressure measurement.
4. Eye sight test.
5. Chest x-ray.
6. Blood work.

The test takes about 1 hour in total. Results come back in about a week.

You would have to have something very wrong with you to fail. You can be overweight, have high blood pressure and wear strong prescription glasses and you still pass (unless you are an extreme case).

Hope this helps!
LKJ

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

LKJ,

I thought that they took a stool test. Actually, I thought the real goal of the medical was to make sure no one with AIDS was given a work permit.

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Given the nature of the health test there's not so much the quacks can find. I mean, measuring height and weight is very routine but as Jzer says the real objective is to ensure you're not a carrier of some infectious disease, principally HIV, or with a chest xray something like TB. I'm no medical expert but the speed at which the entire test is caried out demonstrated to me that as long as I met some (very) minimum health bar no one was ever going to bother me.

BigWally · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:16 am Post subject:

After having done the "health exam" twice (I've just recently received my 2nd year work permit & ARC extension), it is nothing more than a cursory examination.....here's what to expect....

1. Blood Test - to verify that you are not a carrier of HIV
2. Vision Test - reading the letter E 12 times pointing in different directions through a microscope looking thing, each time the letter gets progressively smaller
3. Height & Weight Test - to see how tall & fat you are
4. Blood Pressure Test - to measure your blood pressure
5. Discussion with Doctor - he asks you if you have any diseases, or are taking any medications, listens to your heart & breathing, checks your temperature through your ears
6. Chest X-Ray - to determine if you have TB or not

***If you are female****

7. Urine test - to determine if you are pregnant or not

Thats it, thats all, no rectal exams, no stool testing, no probes being put into places you dont want them....just a very cursory exam to make sure that you are fit enough that you wont be a burden on the National Health Care system, and that you are capable of doing your job without spreading infectious disease.

PS - Post 400! Surprised

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

Rules change, but the health one is still basically the same.

Urine test is for amphetamines and is normal for all (unless changed)
(I do not know if they check for pregnancy - tahts a new one on me)
Stool samples for parasites prevailent in asia. (can get away with that if you argue)

Blood pressure, I have it and still pass.

Basically the hospitals make a fortune on these tests, the lines are huge every day. Taiwanese people also need tests for several jobs etc etc.
I know of only one case of a foreigner not passing the medical and they had HIV (they didnt know)

KaiFeng · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject:

Also, I suggest shopping around for the test. Some places were much more rigorous than others.

The first time I did this, I went to the front desk and said I wanted a physical exam. The woman started booking time with doctors. Then I interrupted to explain that I needed a physical "for work" and she got that "Ahh! Now I understand!" look. She sent me to the basement where a very perfunctory exam took less than fifteen minutes. But I had satisfied the requirement, and so had the HR folks, and so had the hospital.

I love the Chinese way!

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Well, I took the test today. There was no urine test.

They:

1) took my bood pressure, weight, and height

2)blood test(I wonder if they will look for anything besides HIV)

3)chest- x-ray

BigWally · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject:

As I said, the urine test is for females only, to determine pregnancy.

Also, they may check your blood for STD's...I know my friend came back positive for Syphillis, but he didnt really have it...he had a false positive on the 1st (cheaper) test, but then he went back and had a 2nd (more expensive test) done and he was negative....although, he knew he was negative all along, so the whole thing was hilarious

BJ · Joined: 03 Dec 2003 Posts: 173

Every year we had to do urine tests, perhaps the drugs tests are now done through blood. Perhaps they have changed again. My last test 2 years ago they still wanted urine and stool,
Wally, test change over 15 years, that the year you have been here there is no urine test, glad to hear it.
I can only report what I know and we DID have urine tests for amphetimes

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

So does anyone think that they check for anything besides HIV and drugs?

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Of course! Why do they do the chest x-ray then? For a laugh? Nothing better to do? Maybe to check for TB and lung infecions?