Amid the continual surge of the new coronavirus infections in Tokyo, outpatient treatment and operations are being restricted at all 15 advanced treatment hospitals, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
A similar measure has also been taken even in local medical institutions, where regular medical care such as outpatient treatment and surgeries is restricted.
Many hospitals are unable to handle regular patients due to treatment of those seriously infected with the virus. The hospitals are also trying to keep asymptomatic visitors from visiting to avoid in-hospital infections.
Advanced treatment hospitals, which are officially called special functioning hospitals, are recognized by the government as being capable of providing advanced medical care under a high-level safety management system, capable of developing medical technology, conducting research, and training medical workers. In Japan there are 86 such hospitals, most of which are university hospitals.
More than 100 people in Tokyo have been infected with the virus every day since April 14, a situation placing burdens on the medical system.
Keio University Hospital and Jikei University Hospital have suspended first-time outpatient visits in principle.
Kyorin University Hospital and the University of Tokyo Hospital have postponed the treatment dates for patients under observation.
Teikyo University Hospital, Nippon Medical School Hospital and Nihon University Itabashi Hospital have suspended the acceptance of first-time patients without referrals in principle.
In fear of in-hospital infections, there have been moves to limit the number of patients with a fever of 37.5 C or higher and to reduce the number of hospital visits by suspending general checkups and second opinions.
At least 13 hospitals have postponed less-urgent operations. Tokyo Medical University Hospital has postponed operations on painless gallstones and benign tumors, while Kyorin University Hospital has postponed operations on cataracts and joint replacement.
Emergency medical care has also been affected by the outbreak. Since the end of last month, Keio University Hospital and Jikei University Hospital have suspended operations.
On April 13, Tokyo Medical And Dental University Medical Hospital suspended all new emergency admissions except for those infected with coronavirus.
"Many patients are worried about postponing treatments or surgeries. If this situation continues, the condition of those patients will worsen, and hospitals won't be able to save lives that could have been saved," said Shinsuke Amano, who chairs the Japan Federation of Cancer Patient Groups.
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