New Priority Support Area Selected for Regional Health Care Plans
Overview
On October 22, 2026, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare newly selected the Nishi Iburi planning area in Hokkaido as a priority support area to advance regional health care plans. The hospitals covered are Muroran City General Hospital, Steel Memorial Muroran Hospital, and Nikko Memorial Hospital. Selected areas can receive technical support, including data analysis for medical institutions, and financial support, including priority allocation from the Comprehensive Fund for Regional Health and Long-Term Care. To date, 27 areas across 14 prefectures have been selected. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and further selections are planned.
Key points
- The Nishi Iburi planning area in Hokkaido has newly been selected as a priority support area.
- The hospitals covered are Muroran City General Hospital, Steel Memorial Muroran Hospital, and Nikko Memorial Hospital.
- Selected areas receive technical support, including data analysis for medical institutions, as well as financial support.
- Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and further selections are planned.
Overview
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare selects priority support areas to provide national advice and intensive support toward realizing regional health care plans.
Before this selection, 27 areas across 14 prefectures had been selected as priority support areas.
Impact
Areas selected for priority support can receive national technical and financial support to consider reorganizing medical functions and related measures.
Details
Technical support includes data analysis concerning medical institutions.
Financial support includes priority allocation from the Comprehensive Fund for Regional Health and Long-Term Care.
The area covered this time is the Nishi Iburi planning area in Hokkaido, and Muroran City General Hospital, Steel Memorial Muroran Hospital, and Nikko Memorial Hospital are subject to measures such as reorganizing medical functions.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare accepts applications for priority support areas on an ongoing basis and plans to make further selections.