Japan projects shortage of nearly 1m medical workers by 2040

Tokyo prepares by sharing tasks among doctors, nurses and pharmacists

20220726 medical workers

Greater sharing of tasks among Japanese medical workers is being planned as a response to qualified personnel shortages.   © Kyodo

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japan plans to introduce a system that will allow doctors, nurses and pharmacists to share more work across their occupational categories to promote efficient medical care as the country prepares for a major labor shortage in the medical sector, Nikkei has learned.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will specify in its 2022 white paper currently being compiled that reforms such as "task sharing" and "task shifting" are needed to optimize use of trained medical personnel.

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