Japan offers medical visas to Bangladeshis

Japan has recently offered medical visa and opened the door to access its world-class and state of the art healthcare for the people of Bangladesh, speakers said at a health seminar on Friday.

The seminar, titled `Advanced medical treatment and care in Japan for patients from Bangladesh’ was held at Radisson Blue Water Garden Hotel in the city.

The programme commemorating 40 years of Bangladesh-Japan friendship was organized by Medical Excellence Japan in collaboration with Emergency Assistance Japan and Emergency Assistance Bangladesh,.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. AFM Ruhul Haque was the chief guest at the seminar.

Koji Fujimoto, Director, Healthcare Industries Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan; Hiroyuki Minami, Minister, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh; and Dr. Mahumud Hasan, President, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), were present as special guests.

Health Minister Ruhul Haque said that Japan has world-class healthcare. Both countries -- Japan and Bangladesh -- can benefit by transferring medical technology and skill.

In his welcome address, Kazumasa Yoshida, Advisor, Medical Excellence JAPAN & President, Emergency Assistance Japan, said: “Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world just because Japan has cutting edge technology and state-of the-art healthcare system,”

He said Japan has been playing pioneering role in treating cancer, heart diseases, paralyses, endoscopic surgery or minimally invasive surgery, orthopedic surgery, and modern dental treatment.

Addressing the seminar as the keynote speaker, Dr. Hirohiko Tsujii, a specialist doctor from Japan, said Japan is the only country in Asia which has unique treatment of cancer named Heavy ion radiation therapy that can treat inoperable cancer even in the home setting.

In addition to this, he said, Japan is the pioneer in steam cell therapy which can be revolutionary in the treatment of paralysis to bring back the patent into active life.

Koji Fujimoto said that the government of Japan has been operating this project of medical tourism under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan.

“Medical visa is now being given since 2012. Our aim is to help those patients who need high quality, unique medical care in Japan,” he said.

Dr. Sheikh Aleemuzzaman, Chairman, Emergency Assistance Bangladesh (EAB), and the sole coordinator of the project in Bangladesh, said that healthcare in Japan is one of the top 10 ranked healthcare systems in the world. Japan has lowest cost of healthcare among developed countries.

In addition to providing high quality medical care, he said this project will help strengthen healthcare in Bangladesh with the exchange of expertise and technology.

Hiroyuki Minami, Minister, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, Dr. Mahumud Hasan, President, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), Dr. Osamu Otsubo, Chairman, Advanced Medicine Forum, Japan (EAJ); Toru Umezu, Director, Yuai Clinic, Japan (EAJ); Abdul Haque, Director, FBCCI & Advisor, JBCCI also spoke on the occasion.