Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Launches Childbirth Navi Site
Costs of 2,043 Hospitals and Clinics Disclosed
Review of Insurance Coverage for Childbirth Costs by 2026
In Japan, where low birth rates are a chronic social issue, the government has attracted attention by launching a website that allows users to check the costs and services of obstetrics and gynecology hospitals nationwide at a glance. The aim is to transparently disclose medical expenses to alleviate the financial burden on pregnant women.
On the 8th, NHK reported that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has opened and is operating a website called "Shussan Navi (Navigation)" from this month, which discloses the costs of 2,043 hospitals and clinics with obstetrics and gynecology facilities nationwide.
The "Chulsannabi" website established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. (Photo by Chulsannabi)
The Japanese government made this decision due to the wide variation in childbirth costs depending on the region and facility. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's 2022 nationwide childbirth cost survey, the national average was 482,000 yen (4.23 million KRW). However, prices varied significantly by region: the most expensive area was Tokyo Metropolis at 605,000 yen (5.31 million KRW), followed by Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo at 550,000 yen (4.83 million KRW). In contrast, the cheapest areas were Kumamoto Prefecture at 361,000 yen (3.17 million KRW) and Okinawa Prefecture at 374,000 yen (3.28 million KRW), showing a large disparity.
Additionally, the annual increase in childbirth costs has been pointed out as a problem. In Japan, as a measure against low birth rates, households that have children receive a lump-sum payment called the childbirth and childcare lump-sum allowance. The amount, which was previously 420,000 yen (3.68 million KRW), was raised to 500,000 yen (4.39 million KRW) from April last year. However, along with rising prices and labor costs, some hospitals have used the increase in the allowance as an excuse to raise their fees again, claiming that the burden on pregnant women has been reduced.
Moreover, there was criticism that additional services such as attended childbirth and postpartum care vary by hospital, but since costs were not disclosed on their websites, it was difficult for pregnant women to easily find out.
Chulsannabi announces the expected costs by hospital. This place is located in Tokyo, and the price is expensive at around 600,000 yen (5.26 million won). (Photo by Chulsannabi)
In response, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare decided to implement this measure to transparently disclose costs and conditions to eliminate disparities.
Currently, the website discloses information for about 90% of hospitals nationwide. Users can search by region and see details such as delivery and private room costs, availability of painless delivery, whether attended childbirth is offered, the number of specialists such as obstetricians and pediatricians, and whether postpartum care services are provided. The site also includes explanations of technical terms, childbirth-related systems such as maternity leave, and introductions to support systems for living expenses for impoverished families.
Although the website was launched recently, it has received positive feedback from pregnant women who say it reduces the burden when choosing childbirth facilities. Previously, they had to search for reviews posted by actual mothers on social networking services (SNS) or visit facilities in person, but thanks to the website, their effort has been reduced.
In Chulsan Navi, you can easily search for hospitals that meet your criteria using the map. (Photo by Chulsan Navi)
The Japanese government aims to go further by making all childbirth costs covered by health insurance by 2026. The goal is to standardize the widely varying prices by region, but since price adjustments are expected to be difficult, the initial strategy is to disclose all costs and conditions to stimulate discussion. The Shussan Navi management team told NHK, "Our biggest goal is to eliminate people who give up childbirth for economic reasons," adding, "We hope the launch of the site will be the first step in the discussion."
In fact, the Kishida administration has announced that it will consider applying health insurance coverage to childbirth costs by 2026 as part of a "low birth rate countermeasure on a different level than before." The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to hold a review meeting this month including obstetricians, midwives, experts, and pregnant women. Based on the information disclosed on the website, discussions on insurance coverage as well as prenatal and postnatal support will officially begin.
However, the discussions are expected to be challenging. The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated, "We agree with the purpose of reducing childbirth costs, but if the level is not financially viable, it could affect the quality of medical care or even lead to closures," maintaining that "careful consideration is necessary."
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