The current number of medical institutions designated by prefectural governments where people suspected of being infected with the novel coronavirus can receive medical treatment and tests has reached about 23,000, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
This accounts for about 20% of all medical institutions, according to data from a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey that will be released Thursday.
To cope with an expected increase in the number of febrile patients due to a simultaneous outbreak of the novel coronavirus and influenza, the ministry is working to establish a system in which patients can receive medical treatment and tests at their family doctors, among others. The move is aimed at encouraging major hospitals, which have been the main providers of the tests, to focus on treating patients with serious or moderate diseases.
The ministry conducted a survey early this month on the number of designated medical institutions nationwide. According to the results, the number of such medical institutions, including local clinics, exceeded 23,000. By prefecture, Tokyo had the largest number with about 3,000, followed by Kanagawa, Aichi and Fukuoka, with more than 1,000 each.
The designation of such medical institutions may increase.
"The division of roles among medical institutions is expected to progress," a medical official said.
The medical community has highly evaluated this system, but whether it can be smoothly implemented will be a challenge.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
