On August 31, 2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) unveiled the details of its budgetary requests for FY2023, starting next April.

The MHLW requested 33,264.4 billion yen for the general account budget, an increase of 634 billion yen from FY2022. Meanwhile, the budget request for the Labor Insurance Special Account decreased by 588.8 billion yen to 4.09 trillion yen, while that for the Pensions Special Account increased by 954.7 billion yen to 69.2995 trillion yen.

The MHLW requested budgets to cover spending on the following key initiatives:

(1) Establishment of health, medical, and long-term care systems to support the recovery of economic and social activities from the COVID-19 pandemic, 

(2) "Investment in people" toward a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution, and

(3) Realization of secure and safe living and an inclusive society.

In relation to persons with disabilities, the MHLW allocated 18.6 billion yen (18.7 billion yen in the previous fiscal year) for projects "promoting employment of persons with disabilities" under the "promotion of diverse human resources in action," which is in key initiative (2). In this regard, the MHLW started to implement the following:

• Support for companies in the employment of persons with disabilities, including small and medium enterprises 
• Employment support for persons with psychosocial disabilities, developmental disabilities, and persons with other types of disabilities, such as patients with intractable diseases, accommodating their various support needs
• Employment support for persons with severe disabilities through cooperation between employment and welfare policies

As for key initiative (3), 1,521.7 billion yen (1,443.2 billion yen in the previous fiscal year) is allocated for projects "supporting persons with disabilities and promoting measures against addictions" under the "realization of an inclusive society." The Ministry intends to implement actions, such as:

• Expansion of support for community life, including the enhancement of communication support services, based on the enactment of the Act to Promote Communication Measures 
• Establishment of a community-based integrated care system that also addresses persons living with psychosocial disabilities 
• Development of treatment and medical care for substance abuse disorders and a consultation support system in communities as well as the support provided by private organizations

The overall budget request for the Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities is 2,014.7 billion yen (an increase of 93.6 billion yen), which excludes the amount to be transferred to the Child and Families Agency and including the amount appropriated by the Digital Agency. The new and expanded budget request includes the following measures:

• Development of a structure to promote the Use of the Adult Guardianship System [Expanded].
• Promotion of support for artistic and cultural activities [expanded]
• Facilitation of equipment development to support the independence of persons with disabilities [Expanded]
• Promotion of information and communication support for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, and others [Expanded]
• Establishment of a community-based integrated care system for persons with psychosocial disabilities [Partially new].
• Promotion of measures against alcohol use disorder, drug addiction, gambling addiction, and such. [Expanded]
• Facilitating community support network development for persons living with higher brain dysfunction and related disorders [New]: 200 million yen
• Training seminars for teachers in charge of practical training for certified psychologists and practical training supervisors [New]: 41 million yen
• Promotion of initiatives to support persons with disabilities in choosing services relative to obtaining  general employment or employment-related welfare services that match their abilities and aptitudes [New]: 50 million yen

For more information, please visit the website below.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/wp/yosan/yosan/23syokan/