Medical and Welfare Services

Medical interpretation

Sapporo Medical Communication Hotline  011-211-2121

What services does it provide?

・A telephone operator will interpret on your behalf when making appointments or inquiries with hospitals within the City of Sapporo. 

・Phone interpretation can be provided when talking to doctors or other medical staff at the hospital. 

・Volunteer interpreters (only for English and Chinese) can accompany you to the hospital. 

・These services are free of charge (standard phone rates apply).

     *This service is available only for hospitals in Sapporo. You may use this service to pick up prescribed medicine but not for other shopping at pharmacies.

     *This service is to support people receiving medical care only. It can’t be used for other purposes such as beauty care and health check-ups. 

    *Your personal information is strictly protected and used only for this service.   

Languages

For making appointments, hospital inquiries, or for phone interpretation services while you are at a hospital: 32 languages offered *Contact us for details. Interpreters for some languages may not be immediately available.

On-site interpretation by a volunteer interpreter is available for the following languages:  English and Chinese., but only if you fall into one of the followings.
　①Those who live in Sapporo  (excluding short-term stays)
　②When students and their family members living outside of Sapporo need to go to a hospital in Sapporo

When making an appointment or inquiry with a hospital

     1. Open the “Application Form.”

The form is available in easy Japanese, English, and Chinese. Choose one out of the following three choices and input the required information.  

- For those who haven’t decided which hospital to go to

- For those who have decided on the hospital and would like to make an appointment or inquiry

- For those who have decided on the hospital and need an interpreter at the hospital.

2. After filling in the form, call 011-211-2121. You will be connected with a telephone operator.  

*From the second time onward, you can call the number above without filling in the application form.

*Telephone operators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

3. The operator will ask about your health concerns and which hospital you want to go to.

If you do not know which hospital to go to, they can also transfer you to the Emergency Medical Consultation Center of the Sapporo City Public Health Office for consultation.  

4. The operator will call the hospital while you remain on the phone. Your appointment date and other details will be discussed in this three-way call.

*Appointments and inquiries with a hospital can be made on weekdays from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.  

5. Please inform the operator if you would like an accompanying interpreter.

They will contact you once a volunteer interpreter has been secured. To apply for this service, you must be one of the following: 1) a resident of Sapporo (excluding short-term visitors) 2) a foreign student living in Sapporo or a family member who wants to go to a hospital in Sapporo *You must apply for this service several days before going to the hospital. Accompanying interpreters may not be available depending on the days.

*Japanese-English interpretation is provided by volunteers from NPO SEMI Sapporo, and JapaneseChinese interpretation is provided by volunteers from SCI (Sapporo Chinese Medical Interpretation Group).

*Volunteer interpreters are trained to interpret in medical settings; however, they shall not be liable for any interpretation inaccuracies.  

At the hospital

a) Phone interpretation  

1. If you require an interpreter at a hospital, you or the hospital can call 011-211-2121. Application through the form is not required.

2. When the operator answers, tell them the name of the hospital you are visiting, the language you speak, and your current situation.  

3. This will be the start of the phone interpretation. Hand over the telephone or put it on speakerphone as instructed by the operator.  

*Phone interpretation is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Feel free to call whenever you need assistance at the hospital. 

b) On-site interpretation by a volunteer interpreter 

1. Before going to the hospital, the volunteer interpreter will contact you to confirm where to meet and other details.

2. Go to the discussed location at the appointed time.

3. The volunteer interpreter will accompany you and interpret your conversations with the doctor and other medical staff. 

For more, details, please check the link below.

Emergency Medical Consultation Center Sapporo TEL:＃7119 or 011-272-7119

You can call this number in the event of sudden illness or injury to determine whether it is best to visit a clinic/hospital or call an ambulance.

Hokkaido Emergency Medical Treatment Information Center

This website provides information regarding clinics and hospitals (accessible via computer and mobile phone).

Medical Institution Information Map (Sapporo Medical Association)

This website provides information regarding open clinics and hospitals.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

JNTO provides a website that allows users to search for clinics and hospitals providing foreign language support.

Receiving medical care at a clinic/hospital

1. Present your health insurance card at the reception desk and wait until your name is called. Waiting times may be long in crowded clinics/hospitals.
2. After examination and treatment, pay your bill at the cashier and collect any prescription issued.
3. Take the prescription to a pharmacy to buy the prescribed medication.

Finding a medical interpreter

Subsidies for medical expenses

Long-term care insurance system

Welfare services for citizens with disabilities

Consultation services

If you need interpretation services for consultations at municipal offices, use Sapporo Community Interpreters.

FY2024 Supplementary/Adjusted Benefit for the Flat-amount Cut of Personal Income Tax

The flat-amount cut has been applied to income tax and personal residence tax levy for FY2024.

The City of Sapporo will pay the adjusted benefit to the persons projected to be not fully covered the flat-amount cut for personal income tax because the allowed flat-amount cut exceeds the estimated income tax amount for FY2024 or personal resident tax levy amount for FY2024.

[Procedures]

• If you are eligible and have a registered bank account in My Number Portal, you will receive a “Notification of Benefit Payment” (Envelope; First picture) after July 29, 2024. 
  No procedures necessary and the payment will be made on Augst 27 or 28, 2024.  

• To other eligible persons, “Confirmation Letter” will be sent beginning from August 8, 2024 (Envelope; 2nd picture). Please fill them out and enclose necessary documents, then return via postal mail by October 31.

•  If you are eligible and do not receive either of the documents, please inquire to the Call Center below.

[Sapporo City HP (Auto-translation)]

https://www.city.sapporo.jp.e.ain.hp.transer.com/rinnjitokubetukyufukin/r6_tyousei.html

Support Benefit for Households Exempt from Resident Tax

 FY 2024 Support Benefit for Rising Prices for Households Exempt from Resident Tax

Sapporo City will provide benefits to households that are newly exempt from resident tax or subject to only the per capita rate in the fiscal year 2024. Eligible households will receive application forms in sequence starting from July 11. 

[Eligible households] The following three requirements must all be met."

1. Has resident registration in Sapporo City as of June 3rd, 2024.
2. All members of the household are exempt from or fully exempted from the income-based portion of resident tax for the fiscal year 2024.
3. Not being a household that was eligible for Sapporo City's FY 2023 Support Benefit for Rising Prices for Households Exempt from Resident Tax (70,000 yen or households subject to only the per capita rate)

[Benefit Amount]  ¥100,000 per household + ¥50,000 per child under 18* (*Those who were born on and after April 2nd, 2006.)

[Procedures]
After you receive the envelope, please fill the form out and send them back along with necessary documents by October 31st.

[Sapporo City HP]

https://www.city.sapporo.jp.e.ain.hp.transer.com/rinnjitokubetukyufukin/r6_hikazeikintou.html

To inquire about application procedures or you think you are eligible, but have not received the envelope, please call the following call center.

If you need assistance, please contact Sapporo Help Desk for Foreign Residents 

For those under financial strain

 Social Welfare Council loans

Livelihood welfare fund loan system

The Social Welfare Council screens and lends necessary funds to low-income households, households with persons with disabilities, and elderly households to promote their financial independence and enjoyment of life.

Emergency protection fund loan system

The Social Welfare Council screens and lends funds to low-income households and households receiving welfare assistance when they are having financial difficulties due to temporary and incidental expenses and unable to receive any other assistance.

Support program for the financial independence of people in need

Housing Security Benefit

The City of Sapporo pays an amount equivalent to monthly rent for a certain period of time to people seeking employment to make ends meet. Further, support staff of the Sapporo Livelihood and Employment Support Center help them find work.

Welfare assistance

While foreign nationals are not eligible to receive welfare assistance, in cases where permanent residents, the spouses of Japanese citizens/permanent residents or long-term residents are struggling with their livelihood and are unable to receive the necessary support from their country’s consulate and the like, it is possible to receive assurance of livelihood based on standards and conditions outlined within the welfare assistance program. For those in need, contact the Social Aid Section of the ward office that has jurisdiction over the address found on your Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate.