[MHLW] Act on Support for Children in Need of Medical Care Passed

On June 11th, 2021, the House of Councillors passed and enacted the Act on Support for Children in Need of Medical Care and their Families (Law No. 81, promulgated on June 18th, 2021). The bill was submitted by the Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Labour Committee.

The purpose of this law is to promote the healthy growth of children in need of medical care and to support their families. According to the law, "medical care" is defined as respiratory management using a ventilator, sputum suctioning, and other medical treatments, and “children in need of medical care” are those who need medical care on a regular basis in their daily and social lives. It is estimated that there are approximately 20,000 children with such medical conditions living at home in Japan. With the advancement of medical technology, the number of children who need medical care is increasing, and their conditions are becoming more diverse. Moreover, many of the parents who have children in need of medical care leave their jobs in order to provide care while their children are at school. This law allows nurses to be assigned to provide medical care while children are at school, eliminating the need for parents to accompany their children for medical treatment. The main contents of the law are as follows.

I. Measures taken by the national and local governments

  • Support for nurseries and schools where children in need of medical care are enrolled
  • Support with the daily lives of children in need of medical care
  • Improvement of consultation system
  • Promotion of information-sharing
  • Publicity and awareness-raising
  • Securing human resources to provide support
  • Promotion of research and development in this field

II. Measures taken by those establishing nurseries and schools

  • Medical care and other support in day-care centers and schools → Allocation of nurses and other nursery staff who are allowed to provide sputum suctioning, etc.

III. Roles and functions of support centers for children in need of medical care

  • Provision of consultation and other support for children in need of medical care and their families
  • Provision of information and training to relevant organizations engaged in medical care, health, welfare, education, labor, etc.

　The law is to enter into force three months after the date of promulgation. For more information, please see the following website (Japanese only).

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/12601000/000794739.pdf

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