Medical Care Act Amendment and Cabinet Order Effective April 1 2027

On September 4, 2026, the Government promulgated a Cabinet Order designating April 1, 2027, as the enforcement date for the provisions that have not yet come into force under the Act for Partial Amendment of the Medical Care Act, etc. (Act No. 87 of 2025). It was published in the Official Gazette (Extra Edition) of the same date as Cabinet Order No. 271, and is signed jointly by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno.

This Cabinet Order was enacted by the Cabinet based on the provisions of Article 1, Item 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Amended Act. The provisions for which the enforcement date has been set are the remaining provisions of Article 2 of the said Act, excluding the amendment provision adding one article after Article 6-12 of the Medical Care Act (Act No. 205 of 1948), as well as the amendment provisions for Article 7, Paragraph 1; Article 17; Article 18; and Article 29, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the same Act.

Enforcement Date and Subject Provisions

The Cabinet Order designated April 1, 2027, as the enforcement date for the provisions listed in Article 1, Item 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Amended Act. The provisions excluded from this scope are the amendment provision adding one article after Article 6-12 of the Medical Care Act, and the amendment provisions for Article 7, Paragraph 1; Article 17; Article 18; and Article 29, Paragraph 1, Item 3, for which separate enforcement dates will be determined.

• Cabinet Order Number: Cabinet Order No. 271
• Promulgation Date: September 4, 2026
• Enforcement Date: April 1, 2027
• Legal Basis: Article 1, Item 6 of the Supplementary Provisions of the Act for Partial Amendment of the Medical Care Act, etc. (Act No. 87 of 2025)

Finalizing the Preparation Period for System Changes

With this Cabinet Order, the preparation period for system changes for medical institutions and healthcare professionals has been clarified. The Amended Act includes a review of the medical care delivery system; now that the enforcement date is finalized, medical institutions must complete the preparation of facilities, personnel, and operational systems by April 1, 2027.

The Cabinet Order was published in the Official Gazette along with other Cabinet Orders promulgated on the same day, under the signature of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is expected to proceed with the preparation of ministerial ordinances and notifications toward enforcement.

Impact on the Medical Care Delivery System

The finalization of the enforcement date directly affects the management plans of medical institutions and the working arrangements of healthcare professionals. In particular, regarding the functional differentiation and cooperation of medical institutions and the review of the scope of duties for healthcare professionals targeted by the amendment provisions of the Medical Care Act, preparations starting from April 1, 2027, are required.

• Subject: Remaining provisions of the Act for Partial Amendment of the Medical Care Act, etc.
• Enforcement Date: April 1, 2027
• Joint Signatories: Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kenichiro Ueno, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

For medical institutions and healthcare professionals, the confirmation of the enforcement date as April 1, 2027, will enable them to formulate specific schedules for responding to the system changes. Moving forward, it will be necessary to closely monitor the ministerial ordinances, notifications, and guidelines to be promulgated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Source: Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated September 4, 2026, Cabinet Order No. 271, “Cabinet Order Specifying the Enforcement Date of Part of the Act to Partially Amend the Medical Care Act, etc.” (Basis: Supplementary Provision Article 1, Item 6 of the Act to Partially Amend the Medical Care Act, etc. [Act No. 87 of 2025]).