Japan set to fully cover childbirth costs to address falling birth rate
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Child delivery costs have been on the rise in Japan and often exceed the 500,000 yen (S$4,400) subsidy per birth.
PHOTO: AFP
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TOKYO – Japan’s Health Ministry is set to eliminate out-of-pocket payments associated with child delivery, possibly from April 2026, to address the country’s declining birth rate.
One proposed approach in the policy approved on May 14 by a panel of experts involves fully covering expenses for normal deliveries under the public medical insurance system.
Normal childbirth, excluding cases such as cesarean sections, currently falls outside the scope of Japan’s medical insurance, as it is not regarded as a medical condition like illness or injury.
Since medical institutions can set their own prices for normal deliveries, child birth costs in the country have largely differed among prefectures.
While the government currently provides a lump-sum payment of 500,000 yen (S$4,400) for each child birth, delivery costs have been on the rise and often exceed that amount.
If childbirth becomes qualified for public coverage, a unified price will be set nationwide. But obstetricians have expressed concerns that the move could cause financial strain for medical institutions due to reduced revenue. KYODO NEWS
