Overview

• Japan's health ministry is moving forward with a plan to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for normal childbirth by integrating it into the public medical insurance system.
• An expert panel formally approved the proposal, which excludes epidurals from coverage and aims for implementation by April 2026.
• The policy seeks to address Japan's record-low birth rates and geographic disparities in childbirth costs, which currently vary widely across prefectures.
• The government currently provides a ¥500,000 subsidy per childbirth, but the average delivery cost exceeded this amount in 2024, highlighting the financial burden on families.
• Obstetricians have raised concerns about potential revenue losses for medical institutions under the proposed unified pricing system.