Starting September 19, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare will initiate the use of smartphone-based insurance cards across medical facilities nationwide. These smartphone insurance cards integrate the functions of Japan’s My Number health card and can be utilized at medical institutions and pharmacies equipped with specialized reading devices. Facilities capable of supporting this service will display specific stickers indicating their readiness.
To use the smartphone insurance card, individuals must register their My Number health card within their smartphones. However, trials conducted in July and August revealed some patients faced challenges setting up their phones. The ministry advises users to complete this setup before visiting a healthcare provider.
Most healthcare and pharmacy locations will need to install additional “card readers” to scan data from smartphones. Starting August 29, the ministry plans to subsidize the cost of these devices to encourage widespread adoption. A list of participating facilities will be published on the ministry’s website.
by MagazineKey4532