12th Designation of Priority Support Areas for Regional Healthcare Reform
Overview
On July 9, 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare newly designated the Chutan Regional Healthcare Planning Area in Kyoto Prefecture as part of the 12th designation of priority support areas for realizing regional healthcare plans. In the designated area, medical institutions considering the reorganization of healthcare functions can receive technical support, such as data analysis, and financial support through priority allocations from a fund. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and further designations are planned.
Key points
- The Chutan Regional Healthcare Planning Area in Kyoto Prefecture was additionally designated as a priority support area.
- The medical institutions covered are four facilities in the Maizuru area.
- The national government supports consideration of reorganization by combining technical and financial assistance.
- Applications for priority support area designation are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Overview
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has established priority support areas to provide national government advice and intensive support for realizing regional healthcare plans. This was the 12th designation.
Before this designation, 13 prefectures and 25 areas had been selected as priority support areas over 11 rounds.
Impact
In designated areas, medical institutions can receive national government advice and intensive support when considering reviews of their roles and functions. The support includes technical assistance, such as data analysis concerning medical institutions.
Once designated as a priority support area, local medical institutions can receive national technical and financial support for considering reorganization and related measures. Applications for priority support area designation are accepted on an ongoing basis, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to make further designations.
Details
The newly designated area is the Chutan Regional Healthcare Planning Area in Kyoto Prefecture, and the covered medical institutions are Maizuru Medical Center, Maizuru Kyosai Hospital, Maizuru Red Cross Hospital, and Maizuru Municipal Maizuru Civic Hospital.
Once designated as a priority support area, medical institutions can receive technical support, such as data analysis concerning medical institutions, to consider the reorganization of healthcare functions and related measures. They can also receive financial support through priority allocations from the Regional Healthcare and Long-Term Care Comprehensive Assurance Fund.
Applications for priority support area designation are accepted on an ongoing basis, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to make further designations.