Disability Health Japan Politics

Japan Health Ministry to Seek Record 34.7 T. Yen in FY 2026 Budget

Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry announced Tuesday it will seek a record 34.79 trillion yen in the government’s fiscal 2026 general-account budget, a 1.4% increase from the previous year, largely driven by rising social welfare costs amid the nation’s aging population. The figure may climb further as allocations for key policies, including pay raises for medical and nursing care workers, have yet to be set. The draft budget includes 16.2 billion yen for digital transformation initiatives such as expanding e-prescriptions, and 80.6 billion yen to bolster medical services ahead of 2040, when the country’s demographic aging is expected to peak, with emphasis on addressing regional and specialty doctor shortages.

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by Michael Gillan Peckitt
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From Jiji

August 26 2025

TOKYO – Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Tuesday that it will seek a record 34,792.9 billion yen under the government’s fiscal 2026 general-account budget, up 1.4 pct from the fiscal 2025 budget. 
   The increase is due mainly to rising social welfare expenses reflecting the aging of the country’s population.
   The ministry’s final budget figure for the year from April 2026 may increase further as it has not set specific funding amounts for such key measures as salary hikes for medical and nursing care workers.
   The ministry will allocate 16.2 billion yen for the promotion of digital transformation in medical and nursing care services, including expanding the use of digital prescriptions.
   A total of 80.6 billion yen will be earmarked for strengthening medical services toward 2040, around when Japan’s population aging is expected to peak, with efforts focusing on measures for regions and specialties with doctor shortages.

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