Hi all, first time posting here. I just moved to Taipei a little over a week ago for a year-long study course (ICLP).
I was wondering if anyone was familiar with any good western (or western-trained) doctors around 台大 or just in 台北 in general? I’ve had really bad experiences with campus infirmaries and eastern medicine - when I was in Beijing, such doctors prescribed me an insufficient amount of antibiotics for a case of bronchitis I had, which made it even worse and I ended up suffering from some serious bronchitis+pneumonia for about three months straight, and in the end I went to a western doctor anyway. I’d like to avoid something like that again.
I tried asking the people working in my program, figuring it would be a question they’d heard a lot, but they knew nothing, so I came here.
The kind of doctor I’m looking for is just a general practitioner / primary care physician, that sort of person. I’d like to figure out where such a doctor is before I get sick, and perhaps also get a jump-start on flu vaccinations (H1N1 and seasonal).
Simon Chan at the Adventist hospital is great. Berkeley trained, fluent English. He’s in the priority care centre though so you pay (NT1020) for a visit. But you can make appointments in English and just for peace of mind and ease of communication I go here.
Yeah, I had a similar problem - they would only give me 3 days worth when I had a pretty bad lung infection. I had to go back twice to get more and, on the third time, the nurse didn’t even want to give them to me. It’s as if they didn’t even realize that 3 days worth wasn’t sufficient
It’s nice that the air pollution isn’t nearly as bad as in Beijing. Hopefully, you won’t have any problems like what you had over there.
The problem here n Taiwan is the contrary: doctors tend to give you too much medication, too many antibiotics.
I’ve heard good things about the Taida University Hospital Branch in Gongkuan. On teh other hand, try to avoid the main one in Taipei City, as it is overcowded and doctors have no time to see so many patients properly.
Adventist is also well reccomended. For foreigners, Shinkong Hospital is also a good option. Veterans is OKish, but crowded, too. haven’t heard anything good lately about McKay’s.
Hope you like it here and that your body adapst soon so you can enjoy all the nice things in Taiwan. Weekend visits to the mountains -Wulai, Pinlin, Sanxia, Maokong and even Ilan are just a bus ride away from Gongkuan- are a must. Good for your mind and body -not to mention your lungs!
I am also looking for a good General Physician. I speak OK Chinese, so he doesn’t have to be perfectly fluent in English, just somebody who would be good at bringing things together as opposed to referring to a narrow specialist right away. Would much appreciate any suggestions.
As for Simon Chan, is he a GP? Is it 1020 with the local insurance? (I don’t have one yet…)
P.S. Yeah, about Beijing… don’t know how things are now, but 2-3 years ago, in case of anything actually worth seeing a doctor, the only solution I saw was going to SOS International and hoping that the insurance would cover it…
[quote=“alexandril”]I am also looking for a good General Physician. I speak OK Chinese, so he doesn’t have to be perfectly fluent in English, just somebody who would be good at bringing things together as opposed to referring to a narrow specialist right away. Would much appreciate any suggestions.
As for Simon Chan, is he a GP? Is it 1020 with the local insurance? (I don’t have one yet…)
P.S. Yeah, about Beijing… don’t know how things are now, but 2-3 years ago, in case of anything actually worth seeing a doctor, the only solution I saw was going to SOS International and hoping that the insurance would cover it…[/quote]
Simon is a GP. This is a private clinic so you don’t need your insurance card. You can pay with credit card if I recal. It’s NT1020, a little less if you make an appointment.
I go to the doctor so seldom I don’t mind paying. If I have to take tests I go to a public hospital and use my insurance card.
[quote=“Icon”]Veterans is OKish[/quote]I wouldn’t recommend it. They told me I had leukemia in 2003 and did a backbone marrow biopsy on me…later went to Adventist and was told in no uncertain terms that I didn’t have the blood disease.
Simon is a GP. This is a private clinic so you don’t need your insurance card. You can pay with credit card if I recal. It’s NT1020, a little less if you make an appointment.[/quote]
OK, thank you!
Good for you
Well, I think taking care of one’s health is not a good thing to save on anyways…
