Children stopped going to school risk illnesses from being detected early due to not getting health checkups… Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to conduct first nationwide survey to better comprehend the situation

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to launch the first nationwide survey on the status of health checkups for children who are not attending school as early as the end of the year, as there is a risk that illnesses may be overlooked. Based on the results, the ministry plans to ask the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other organizations to promote health checkups.

The number of elementary and junior high school students not attending school in fiscal 2023 will reach a record high of approximately 346,500, marking the 11th consecutive year of increase (according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology). The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications believes that a significant number of these students are not receiving medical treatment, and plans to conduct a survey to understand the actual situation.