<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOriginally, the Medical Law was enacted in 1948 (Showa 23) with the purpose of organizing the devastated medical facilities. Since then, the Medical Law has undergone significant amendments from the first to the eighth time. Below, we briefly introduce the major revision periods and their contents.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRevision<\/td> Period<\/td> Content<\/td><\/tr> 1st<\/td> Enacted in 1986 (S61)<\/td> Introduction of regional medical planning system 2nd<\/td> April 1993 (H5)<\/td> Establishment of designated function hospitals and recuperative bed group system 3rd<\/td> April 1998 (H10)<\/td> Creation of regional medical support hospital system 4th<\/td> March 2001 (H13)<\/td> Distinction between general and recuperative beds 5th<\/td> April 2007 (H19)<\/td> Promotion of providing medical information to patients 6th<\/td> October 2014 (H26)<\/td> Promotion of functional differentiation and collaboration of beds 7th<\/td> Announced in September 2015 (H27)<\/td> Creation of the system for promoting regional medical collaboration corporations 8th<\/td> Established in June 2017 (H29)<\/td> Ensuring safety management systems for advanced medical careIn the 2021 (Reiwa 3) amendment, there were mainly seven areas of revision. Each will be explained in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Revisions Related to Physicians and Medical Professionals<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn the Medical Law of Reiwa 3 (2021), there were also revisions concerning the working styles and scope of work for physicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Reform of Physicians’ Working Styles<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe first is the reform of physicians’ working styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to the changing medical needs, the advancement of medical care, and the decrease in workforce due to the declining birthrate, the burden on individual physicians is expected to increase further. Therefore, new revisions have been made and will be implemented in phases starting from April 1, Reiwa 6 (2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nMeasures to reduce long working hours for physicians and to ensure their health<\/li>\n\n\n\n Regulation of overtime work limits and application of health protection measures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nGiven that about 40% of full-time hospital physicians currently work more than 960 hours of overtime and holidays per year, and about 10% work more than 1,860 hours, this can be considered a fundamental reform. The goal is to ensure the health of physicians and enable them to respond more proactively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Expansion of the Scope of Work for Medical Professionals<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe second is the expansion of the scope of work. The Japanese Radiological Technologist Law, the Japanese Law Concerning Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Others, the Japanese Clinical Engineer Law, and the Japanese Emergency Medical Technician Law are targeted, and have been in effect since October 1, Reiwa 3 (2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aim is to promote task shifting\/sharing (transferring or sharing tasks traditionally handled by specific professions to other professions) to reduce the burden on physicians. Additionally, the collaboration system has been organized so that medical professionals can make better use of their expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Review of the Physician Training Program<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe third is the review of the physician training program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nRequirement of passing a common examination for eligibility to take the National Medical Licensing Examination<\/li>\n\n\n\n Clarification of the legal status of medical practices performed by medical students during clinical training<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe requirement of passing a common examination will be implemented from April 1, Reiwa 7 (2025), and the clarification of legal status from April 1, Reiwa 5 (2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, the same rules will apply to dentists as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe fourth point is the response to emerging infectious diseases. Emerging infectious diseases refer to diseases that are already known but have become epidemic again with an increasing number of patients. The revision was made due to the significant impact such outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases can have on the general healthcare system, the need for prior measures, and the necessity for smooth communication between administrative bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following a review of the “Basic Policy (Ministerial Notification)” and the “Guidelines for Medical Plan Creation (Bureau Director Notification)”, each prefecture plans to carry out planning work. This will be implemented from April 1, Reiwa 6 (2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Support for Medical Institutions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe fifth area is support for medical institutions. We have positioned the “Hospital Bed Functionality Reorganization Support Project,” established in the fiscal year of Reiwa 2 (2020), within the Comprehensive Regional Medical and Care Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government will bear the full cost of changes, and medical institutions undergoing reorganization are planned to receive tax incentives. This support is aimed at medical institutions actively working towards the realization of the regional medical care plan, providing assistance in reorganizing hospital bed functions and medical institutions. This has been in effect since April 1, Reiwa 3 (2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n