The sudden and unexpected loss of Taiwanese celebrity Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛), who passed away at the age of 48 from influenza while on vacation in Japan, has many concerned about what they should do in the event they fall ill in a foreign country. Physician Chen Wen-bi (陳文筆), who is based in Japan, explained in an interview this Wednesday how to prepare.
According to Chen, the first thing people should do before traveling abroad is find out how to contact the embassy at their destination. He also highlighted the importance of informing healthcare providers about their relevant medications and medical records, and to consider purchasing travel insurance to mitigate the financial burden of having to obtain medical treatment abroad.
As one of the most common problems people encounter in this scenario is the language barrier, Chen reminded travelers that if they are with a tour group, the travel agency may arrange for translators to accompany them to the hospital. Solo travelers can check whether there are overseas Taiwanese organizations in the area. In Japan in particular, overseas Taiwanese groups that receive requests for assistance will usually send a member to the hospital to assist with translation and other needs.
Chen also said Taiwan’s embassies and missions abroad normally have a list of Taiwanese doctors living in the country. He previously worked at Nanao National Hospital in Japan and has personally encountered situations where Taiwanese people contacting the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Osaka for medical assistance were referred to him, he said.