Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Ghost recently became very ill, and was admitted to a Hospital in Shalu (Taichung County). Severe weight loss, loss of appetite, headaches.

The experience was a painful one for several reasons.

1. Ghost does not possess the coveted Taiwan Medical card, and so had to foot the bill itself which came to over NT 18.000 (Taiwan dollars) for a 3.5 day stay in the Hospital.

2. Ghost was tested for so many things and illnesses that it lost track. But from the start the communication between ghost and the doctors was not satisfactory, with some of the doctors not even speaking English to an acceptable level. Ghost had to resort to a mixture of Mandarin (Chinese) most of the time, as none of the nurses spoke any English, and many of the doctors' English was extremely limited. It was surreal for ghost to have to communicate in Mandarin....but certainly a good exercise...

One doctor in particular, told ghost it had various illnesses which when challenged by ghost did not prove to be true.

3. As ghost did not have the funds, it was placed in the 'cheapo ward' sharing a room with a bunch of sick geriatrics who shouted and screamed throughout the day and night, making it impossible for ghost to obtain the required rest during these trying times.

4. Constant misinformation from doctors and nurses - ghost was monitored every hour, throughout the day and night, but oftentimes the nurses would write fictitious data into their notebooks, because they were simply too lazy - blood pressure readings for example.....

After three and half days, ghost was 'released' from the hospital, but not before the hefty fee was paid (NT 18.000).

The whole experience was a nightmare, and teachers and students in Taiwan would be strongly advised to purchase some kind of health insurance if they do not possess the ARC and accompanying Taiwan Health Card.

Ghost in Taichung, Taiwan.

[jonks]

I recommend you get an ARC.

How did you discover the nurses were writing fictitious data in their notebooks?

Sounds a bit odd - especially due to your lack of Mandarin ability...

[Serious_Fun]

[scot47]

Medical cover is a MUST. Don't be without it !

[markholmes]

1.

[DirtGuy]

You spent 3.5 days in the hospital, no insurance, paid less than $600 US and you are complaining.

There are many, many responses to this posting but I will control what I am really thinking.

Had this happened in the US, you almost certainly would have had to declare bankruptcy in order for you to ever get back on your feet financially. Be glad, really glad, your unfortunate incident happened in Taiwan.

DirtGuy

[twinkletoes]

Yes, the medical insurance is one of the best things about Taiwan. Get a legal job, and get a health card, people!

Ghost, you have my sympathy. Everybody makes mistakes. I didn't purchase medical insurance to tide me over before my health card became valid. I got lucky.

Anyway, 18,000 isn't so much. Hope everything is okay.

[markholmes]

[Northwood]

Ghost:

I appreciate that you feel the care should have been better. I know of a few people that got admitted to hospital but decided to transfer to another hospital when they felt the care and general surroundings were not up to their expectations. I�m not sure how the process works but I know it happens.

Fortunately, the medical sector here in Taiwan does not appear to demand excessive amounts of money from people that are concerned about their health.

It sounds like you are confusing the reason and subsequent expectations for your admission into hospital. Observation (which you describe) is very different to rehabilitation.

Food for thought: An MRI scan in the UK (private care) costs in the region of NT$70,000, whereas in Taiwan it is just a few thousand NT$. I know of one person in that stayed in Taiwan simply to complete their diagnosis - and it was all done in a very timely and cost effective manner. They decided to return to their home country (full diagnosis in hand) and received treatment immediately (16 months sooner than had they gone through the same channels at home). They had nothing but praise and thanks for the head start they received.

Your advice about getting a medical card is excellent. You can�t buy health, but someone has to pay for the care. It�s an expensive game so insurance is vital.

Hope you are feeling better and that you will be able to ride the cost.

[trukesehammer]

[sbettinson]

Ouch Ghost.

That's some bad luck you ran into there. I agree with the other posters in reply to your comments about having insurance here but I really feel for you on the translation issue.

Even though there is no onus on the doctors to speak English it's just not a nice situation to be sick and not be able to know what is going on. I know from first hand experience about the issues in communication here. My gf and I went to the hospital last year and and she had an eye infection that turned nasty and she couldn't see out of the eye. During the diagnosis the question was posed of "Will the vision be damaged permanently?" The question wasn't understood and the doctor nodded. This caused great stress and the point had to be clarified.

Just out of interest. Did you not have any Taiwanese friends who could have helped out? Colleagues etc?

[Serious_Fun]

[Horizontal Hero]

I know it won't make you feel any better, but my mainland Chinese wife paid that much EVERY DAY she was in hospital in Hong Kong. That was just for a basic hospital bed. Thus she is no longer living with me in Hong Kong - we can't get coverage for her and we can't afford it if she gets sick again.