Medical Care Act (Iryō Hō)

The Medical Care Act (Iryō Hō) governs the provision of medical services in Japan. Enacted in 1948, the Act establishes the framework for hospitals, clinics, medical practitioners, and medical care institutions. The Act regulates the establishment and management of medical institutions, the duties of physicians, patient rights, and the quality of medical care. It also addresses emergency medical care and community health.

Legal area: Law governing the provision of medical services and healthcare institutions.

Year enacted: 1948

Full text: https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=japan-medical-care-act

Key Provisions

• Chapter I: General provisions (medical care, medical institutions)
• Chapter II: Medical care institutions (establishment, management)
• Chapter III: Medical practitioners (duties, qualifications)
• Chapter IV: Patient rights and duties
• Chapter V: Emergency medical care (ambulance, emergency treatment)
• Chapter VI: Community health (public health centres)

Significance

The Medical Care Act provides the regulatory framework for Japan’s healthcare system. The Act has been amended to address issues including the shortage of physicians, the ageing of the medical workforce, and the digitalisation of medical records. Japan’s healthcare system provides universal coverage with high-quality care, but faces challenges including physician working conditions and regional disparities in healthcare access. The Act’s provisions on information management have been updated to address data security and telemedicine.