Medical Care Act

A prefectural council on medical service facilities is established in the prefectures in order to carry out investigations and deliberations on particulars placed under their jurisdiction by this Act, and in order to carry out investigations and deliberations on significant particulars related to ensuring the system for providing medical care in the relevant prefecture in response to consultations with the prefectural governor.

Any necessary particulars concerning the organization and operation of a prefectural council on medical service facilities is stipulated by Cabinet Order.

Designated cities set forth in Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (hereinafter referred to as "designated cities" in this Article), pursuant to the provisions of a Cabinet Order, are to handle affairs specified by a Cabinet Order to be handled by prefectures in this Act. In this case, provisions set forth in this Act concerning prefectures apply mutatis mutandis to designated cities as provisions concerning designated cities.

Affairs placed under the jurisdiction of a prefectural governor, mayor of a city with a public health center, or mayor of a special ward of Tokyo pursuant to the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (2), Article 23-2, Article 24, paragraph (1), Article 24-2, and Article 25, paragraphs (1) and (2), where the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds there to be an urgent necessity therefor in order to protect the health of the citizens, this is to be undertaken by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, prefectural governor, mayor of a city with a public health center, or mayor of a special ward of Tokyo. In this case, provisions set forth in this Act concerning a prefectural governor, mayor of a city with a public health center, or mayor of a special ward of Tokyo (limited to those pertaining to the relevant affairs) apply mutatis mutandis to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as provisions concerning the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

In the case set forth in the preceding paragraph, when the relevant affairs are undertaken by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, a prefectural governor, mayor of a city with a public health center, or mayor of a special ward of Tokyo, they are to be undertaken under close mutual cooperation.

The authority of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare pursuant to the provisions of this Act may be delegated to the Director-General of a Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare, pursuant to the provisions of an Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The authority delegated to the Director-General of a regional bureau of health and welfare pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be delegated to the Director-General of a regional branch bureau of health and welfare pursuant to the provisions of an Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Where an order has been established, revised, or abolished based on the provisions of this Act, the relevant order may specify any necessary transitional measures (including transitional measures related to penal provisions) within the scope reasonably necessary in accordance with the relevant establishment, revision, or abolition.