Management Support Based on Data is Needed for Medical Institutions

◆With the spread of COVID-19, management of medical institutions is deteriorating due to people holding back on medical examinations. The government is implementing various support measures. Looking at the number of medical receipts and medical fees, the impact of holding back on examinations is particularly large in certain medical departments, such as pediatrics and ear, nose and throat departments.

◆Trends in holding back on medical examinations differs depending on the region. While examinations greatly decreased in metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, holding back on medical examinations in the Tohoku, Kyushu, and other regions was not as prevalent as the metropolitan areas. However, the avoidance of visits is not accelerating, and there are signs that the tendency has slowed down or stopped in some areas.

◆Even if the tendency to hold back on visits has subsided, management support for medical institutions is expected to continue for the long-term. Data-based policy decisions will also be required to efficiently support medical institutions, taking into account structural challenges that have been pointed out for many years, such as the need to appropriately curb ever-increasing medical costs.