Adventures In Taiwanese Health Care

Today we got a brief experience of what the health care system is like here in Taiwan. Neither of us had ever needed to see a doctor before while overseas, so this was our first brush with non-Canadian health care. Mel's ear started aching a bit last night so we had gone to the pharmacy to get her some ear drops. The pharmacist couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Chinese so neither party could really be sure that the bottle of "otic ear disease drops" being offered were really what Mel should be putting into her ear. A helpful customer suggested that we go next door to see a doctor who could get to the bottom of it. Neither of us are the type to go to the doctor unless we're looking for a note to get out of work or an exam, so this had never crossed our minds. Regardless, we were curious about what the experience would be like and, quite frankly, we were a little bored so we crossed the road to the doctors office.

Now that I know what they look like, I guess I've seen doctors clinics on nearly every street in Taipei. They have a round little "National Health Insurance" sign out front. Mel's school provides health insurance, so she showed them her insurance card, paid her $100NT ($3 CAN) and was escorted two doors down to an ear/nose/throat doctor. In Canada she once waited a few months to see an ear/nose/throat doctor and here she was just walking right through the door with no appointment required. Cool!

The doctor spoke decent English and all the nurses piled in to watch the foreigner get her ear looked at.

He stuck a camera in her ear to check for infection and we got to watch it on the TV screen. I never knew that Mel's ears were so hairy.

With a clean bill of health Mel was sent on her way with a bag full of pills and some ear drops that were included in the price of the consultation. This was great because the "Otic" drops alone had been $129NT at the pharmacy and the consultation featuring free pills was only $100NT. If you're in Taiwan and you want to save money on drugs, I suggest that you get them from a doctor, who apparantly also doubles as a pharmacist in this country. We saw a botox sign when we were in the clinic and it got us thinking of other services we should request for our next $100NT visit :P