Healthcare
Latest news and updates on healthcare for expats in Japan
Japan Disciplines 28 Medical Professionals in Latest Accountability Review
Japan's health ministry disciplined 28 doctors and dentists with penalties ranging from license revocations to practice suspensions, demonstrating the...
February 4, 2026
Recent Medical Malpractice Cases Highlight Patient Safety Concerns in Japan
Recent court rulings awarded 180 million yen for a daycare choking incident and 6.1 million yen for surgical gauze left in a patient, highlighting pat...
January 29, 2026
Measles Outbreak in Kanto and Record Whooping Cough Deaths Alert Expats
Measles cases surge in Kanto region while whooping cough killed seven infants in 2025, the highest toll in 20 years. Expats should verify vaccination ...
January 28, 2026
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Pressure on Atomic Bomb Recognition
Atomic bomb survivor groups urge faster healthcare recognition as victims age, while business federation acknowledges wage growth must outpace inflati...
January 20, 2026
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Mounting Pressure from Elderly Care Crisis
Japan faces 225,000-person elderly care waiting lists, launches antimicrobial resistance research with Southeast Asia, and confronts annual New Year m...
December 29, 2025
Japan's Healthcare Faces Twin Challenges: Rising Elderly Costs, Safety Concerns
Japan plans to expand higher medical co-payments for elderly patients during 2025, while Nagoya University Hospital suspends pediatric surgeries follo...
December 27, 2025
Japan's Healthcare Costs Rising: New Fees for OTC Drugs, Higher Limits
Japan raises healthcare costs from August 2025 with higher income-based limits for expensive treatments and new fees for 77 common prescription drugs ...
December 25, 2025
Healthcare Costs Rising in Japan: What Expats Need to Know for 2025
Japan is raising healthcare costs in 2025 with medical fee increases of 2.22%, new surcharges on 1,100 prescription drugs similar to OTC medications, ...
December 24, 2025
Healthcare Costs in Japan: Insurance Premiums Drop While Medical Fees Rise in 2025
Japan's 2025 healthcare changes bring a 2.22% medical fee increase starting April while Kyōkai Kenpō insurance premiums drop 0.1% for the first time i...
December 23, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Financial Crisis Amid Rising Costs
Japan's national university hospitals report major deficits while the government plans a 3.09% medical fee increase, the largest in 30 years, potentia...
December 19, 2025
Healthcare Costs Rise for Higher Earners and Elderly in Japan
Japan's government proposes expanding higher cost-sharing for nursing care and raising outpatient expense caps for elderly patients, targeting higher ...
December 15, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Critical Reforms Amid Emergency Response Gaps
Japan faces healthcare reforms addressing emergency response gaps exposed by nighttime disasters and negotiations over medical fee increases. Decision...
December 13, 2025
Japan to Expand Healthcare Self-Payment Requirements for Elderly Services
Japan's government is expanding 20% co-payment requirements for long-term care services based on income, while proposals suggest adding special fees t...
December 12, 2025
Japan Advances Healthcare Reforms: Free Childbirth, Workplace Support, Fraud Crackdown
Japan is reforming healthcare with free childbirth coverage through insurance plus cash payments, new workplace guidelines for women's health support,...
December 10, 2025
Japan Delays Decision on Medical Fee Changes for Seniors Aged 70+
Japan postpones decisions on medical fee changes for those 70+ until fiscal 2025. Current co-payment rates remain unchanged while government conducts ...
December 9, 2025
Japan Proposes Healthcare Cost Reforms Affecting Expats and Elderly
Japan's health ministry proposes raising outpatient cost caps for those over 70 and charging care management fees for nursing home residents, potentia...
December 8, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Major Changes in Medical Fee Structure
Japan is revising medical fees paid to healthcare institutions, with increases likely for personnel costs. Prime Minister Takaichi also announced Japa...
December 6, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Major Insurance and Cost Reforms in 2025
Japan will finalize major healthcare reforms by December 2025, increasing costs for prescription drugs similar to OTC medications while maintaining pr...
December 5, 2025
Japan's Healthcare Crisis: Nursing Shortages and Insurance Reforms Ahead
Japan faces nursing school closures affecting 10% of programs, medical fee increase requests, and debates over insurance coverage for OTC-equivalent d...
December 4, 2025
Japan to Cover Full Childbirth Costs and Lower Drug Prices in 2026
Japan will cover standard childbirth costs fully through public insurance in 2026, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses. Drug prices will also decrease ...
December 3, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Major Changes and Critical Shortages
Japan transitions to My Number health insurance cards from December 2024, with a grace period until March 2025. Critical shortages of pediatric heart ...
December 2, 2025
MyNumber Health Insurance Cards Now Mandatory at Japanese Medical Facilities
Japan mandates MyNumber health insurance cards at medical facilities from December 2, 2024. Traditional cards remain valid until March 2025 as a trans...
December 1, 2025
Japan's Healthcare Reforms: What Changes Mean for Your Family's Coverage
Japan plans to expand National Health Insurance premium relief to high school-age children by April 2027, while adding surcharges to medications simil...
November 27, 2025
Japan's Healthcare Crisis: Hospital Deficits and Coming Insurance Reforms
Japan's hospitals face average deficits of 140 million yen despite subsidies, while 37% of care facilities operate at losses. The government proposes ...
November 26, 2025
New Flu Variant Detected in Japan as Insurance Policy Changes Loom
A new H3 influenza variant has been detected in Japan while the government plans year-end decisions on insurance coverage for common medications, pote...
November 24, 2025
Japan Reviews High-Cost Medical Care System Amid Insurance Reform Push
Japan's government is reviewing the High-Cost Medical Care Benefit System's outpatient provisions, potentially affecting how all residents manage expe...
November 21, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Cost Pressures as Reforms Loom
Japan's healthcare system faces financial strain from inflation, prompting medical associations to seek government support. Proposed reforms may incre...
November 20, 2025
Japan Announces Major Healthcare and Welfare Reforms for 2025
Japan's welfare ministry announces nursing care fee revisions to improve worker conditions, responds to court ruling on welfare payment reductions, an...
November 17, 2025
Japan's High-Cost Medical Treatment System Faces Major Reform Debate
Japan is reviewing reforms to its High-Cost Medical Treatment system, which caps monthly medical expenses. Patient groups have raised concerns about p...
November 15, 2025
Japan Tackles Influenza Surge with Emergency Drug Access and Insurance Reform
Japan releases emergency flu drug stockpiles amid early season surge while advancing insurance reforms that may include investment income in premium c...
November 14, 2025
Japan Boosts Healthcare: Wage Subsidies and Groundbreaking Treatments
Japan's government is implementing wage subsidies for healthcare workers, advancing innovative respiratory treatments, and planning legal reforms to s...
November 8, 2025
Japan Faces Sharp Influenza Surge as Healthcare Budget Talks Begin
Influenza cases in Japan surged 2.4 times in early November, prompting calls for prevention measures. Meanwhile, government discussions on healthcare ...
November 7, 2025
Japan's Healthcare System Faces Reform: What Changes Mean for You
Japan debates healthcare reforms affecting diagnosis fees and insurance coverage of OTC-similar drugs. Changes could impact expats' medical costs star...
November 7, 2025