Enhancing health care provision system

In order to cope with the sudden rise in patients caused by the spread of the virus, we will further enhance our health care delivery system. By clarifying the roles of medical institutions accepting patients with “severe and moderate” symptoms and those accepting patients with “mild to moderate” symptoms, appropriate medical care is provided for their respective symptoms. Also, so that patients who are not hospitalized can recuperate with a sense of security, we are strengthening acceptance of these patients to designated facilities for recovery, such as by newly opening such facilities. And, as to the patients recovering at home, we are expanding systems for home visits in cooperation with medical associations. At the metropolitan and Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Hospitals Corporation hospitals we have already secured beds as oxygen stations to accept patient admission requests by ambulances that cannot find a hospital to take in their patient. We will also secure new beds to provide oxygen and other treatment mainly for patients with moderate symptoms. Oxygen stations, which will temporarily accept mild patients, will first be opened in Shibuya, and then expanded according to the infection situation. Furthermore, as a new weapon for treatment, we are actively promoting the “antibody cocktail therapy” which is expected to be effective in preventing patients from developing serious conditions.

Two days ago, together with Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Tamura Norihisa, I observed its utilization at a designated hotel for recovery. In strong cooperation with related organizations, we will take all possible measures by making full use of our valuable medical resources.