Japan to Raise Overall Medical Service Fees by 2.22 Pct

Tokyo, Dec. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan plans to raise overall government-set medical service fees by 2.22 pct in fiscal 2026, informed sources said Tuesday. The government is set to increase the main portion of the fees, which mainly covers labor costs for medical workers, by an annual average of 3.09 pct over the two years from fiscal 2026, which starts next April. Meanwhile, the government is slated to lower official drug prices by 0.87 pct as they are currently higher than market prices. Overall medical service fees are set to rise for the first time in 12 years since the fiscal 2014 revision. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and health minister Kenichiro Ueno are expected to formally agree on the hike at a meeting on Wednesday. It will be the first time in 30 years since fiscal 1996 that the main portion of the fees will be raised by 3 pct or more. The rate of increase for fiscal 2027 alone is seen to top 3.5 pct, reflecting expected inflation. The move is aimed at helping medical institutions stay afloat amid inflation and raise staff wages. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]