「病院に行けない」という相談の向こう側

— 多言語医療相談の現場から —

「病院に行ったのに、診てもらえなかったんです」

　これは、当センターの多言語医療相談に日々寄せられる相談の中でも、特に多いもののひとつです。体調が悪く、不安な気持ちで医療機関を訪れたにもかかわらず、診察にたどり着けなかった——。その経験が、どれほど心細いものかは、想像に難くありません。

　日本の医療制度は、長く日本で暮らしている人にとっては「当たり前」でも、初めて接する方にとっては非常に分かりにくい仕組みです。相談の中で病院側から説明された理由として多いのは、「予約がない」「紹介状がない」「日本語での意思疎通が難しい」といったものです。

　しかし、それらの言葉だけでは、「なぜ診てもらえなかったのか」という疑問が解消されないままの方がほとんどです。

　日本では、医療機関は大きく「病院」と「診療所（クリニック）」に分かれ、それぞれ役割が異なります。クリニックでも診察や基本的な検査・治療は可能で、必要に応じて病院へ紹介される、というのが一般的な流れです。

　一方で、外国人の方の中には、「クリニックでは十分な医療が受けられないのではないか」という不安を抱く方も少なくありません。それは、その方の母国の医療事情や、これまでの医療体験に根ざした感覚であることも多いと感じています。

　制度の説明以前に、受付での会話が成立しないという問題もあります。多くの医療機関では日本語以外の対応が難しく、症状や希望を十分に伝えられないまま、受診に至らないケースも少なくありません。

　当センターの多言語医療相談では、「なぜ受診できなかったのか」を一緒に整理し、「今、実際に受診できる医療機関はどこか」、「どのような準備が必要か」を丁寧にお伝えしています。

　「病院に行けなかった」という一言の裏には、医療制度、言語、文化の違いが複雑に絡み合っています。私たちは、その見えにくい壁を少しずつ取り除き、必要な医療につなぐ役割を担ってきました。

　体調が悪いときに、「どこに行けばいいのか分からない」「話が通じなかったらどうしよう」そんな不安を抱えたまま過ごすことがないように。

このブログでは、現場で実際に起きていることを、今後もお伝えしていきたいと思います。次回は、「救急で受診したい」と相談を受けたときに、現場で何が起きているのかを取り上げる予定です。

“I Went to the Hospital in Japan, but They Refused to See Me”

Understanding Healthcare Access for Non-Japanese Speakers

“I went to the hospital, but they wouldn’t see me.”

Our multilingual medical consultation center receives messages like this almost every day from non-Japanese speakers living in Japan.

Many people assume that going to a hospital guarantees treatment. When they are turned away, confusion and anxiety quickly follow — especially for those unfamiliar with how the Japanese healthcare system works.

Why does this happen? And what should non-Japanese speakers in Japan know about accessing medical care?

Why Are Non-Japanese Speakers Turned Away at Hospitals in Japan?

There are three common reasons patients are told they cannot be seen:

• They cannot communicate in Japanese

• They do not have an appointment

• They do not have a referral letter

However, these explanations alone do not answer the deeper question:Why does this prevent someone from receiving care?

For many non-Japanese speakers, the structure of the Japanese healthcare system is not immediately clear. Without that background knowledge, being refused at a hospital can feel arbitrary or discriminatory, even when it is related to procedural requirements.

Clinic vs. Hospital in Japan: Understanding the Difference

One key source of confusion is the difference between a clinic (診療所) and a hospital (病院) in Japan.

In the Japanese healthcare system:

• Clinics provide primary care, basic examinations, and routine treatment.

• Hospitals handle more specialized testing, advanced procedures, and hospitalization.

Patients are generally expected to visit a clinic first. If specialized care is needed, the clinic issues a referral letter to a hospital. This referral system is a standard pathway designed to manage patient flow efficiently.

However, many non-Japanese speakers come from healthcare systems where hospitals function as the first point of care. As a result, some patients feel uncomfortable being directed to a clinic and may believe that “clinic-level care” is insufficient.

These differences in medical systems and healthcare culture can easily create misunderstandings.

The Language Barrier in Japanese Medical Institutions

Even before the healthcare system can be explained, another major obstacle appears: language.

At many medical institutions in Japan, communication in languages other than Japanese is limited. Reception desks — the first point of contact — often do not have multilingual support.

When communication breaks down at this stage:

• Patients may not understand why they cannot be seen

• They may not know whether they need an appointment

• They may not realize a referral letter is required

In some cases, patients leave without knowing what steps to take next.

For non-Japanese speakers, language barriers in Japanese healthcare settings can significantly limit access to medical services.

Our Role: Supporting Medical Access for Non-Japanese Speakers in Japan

Our multilingual medical consultation service helps bridge this gap.

We support non-Japanese speakers by:

• Clarifying why they were unable to receive care

• Explaining how the Japanese healthcare system works

• Identifying medical institutions they can realistically visit

• Providing step-by-step guidance on what to prepare

Behind the simple statement, “I couldn’t see a doctor,” lies a complex combination of systemic structure, language barriers, and cultural differences.

Improving healthcare access for non-Japanese speakers in Japan requires more than translation. It requires understanding the system — and helping patients navigate it safely and effectively.

If you are a non-Japanese speaker in Japan struggling to access medical care, we will continue sharing practical information and guidance through this blog.

Our goal is simple:To ensure that no one is left without care because of language barriers or system complexity.