Japan Health Min. Eyes Record 36.5 T. Yen in FY 2027 Budget

Tokyo, Aug. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Wednesday it will seek a record 36,580.3 billion yen in its general-account budget request for fiscal 2027, reflecting rising social welfare costs amid the aging of the country’s population. The figure represents an increase of 4.4 pct from the fiscal 2026 initial budget level. The ministry aims to focus on projects to promote drug discovery and advanced medical care and launch a support program for companies developing innovative medicines. The ministry plans to work on details during the budget compilation process at the end of this year. It did not specify amounts for measures such as wage hikes for nursing care workers at this stage. A total of 148.3 billion yen, including funds requested under a new “strong and prosperous Japan” investment quota, is sought for the development of new drugs, four times the fiscal 2026 budget level. The ministry will start a program to provide drug discovery startups with subsidies and advice to help them put their drugs into practical use. It will work to ensure the stable supply of vaccines in preparation for potential infectious disease outbreaks and promote the domestic production and stockpiling of drugs. Additionally, 132.2 billion yen is requested to create a society in which diverse human resources, including women, the elderly, people raising children and caregivers, can participate in the workforce. A matching program will connect companies with elderly people seeking to make use of their professional experience. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]