The Japanese authorities plans to abolish the present health insurance card system in the fall of 2024, the minister for digital transformation introduced on Oct. 13.
The cards shall be mixed into the My Number identification card.
“I was instructed to work out the details so that we can gain the understanding of all concerned parties,” Taro Kono stated at a information convention after assembly with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The transfer comes as the federal government proceeds with a plan to combine identification cards right into a single My Number card.
The My Number card, a digital identification card for Japanese residents and residents, was launched in 2016. The authorities began full-scale use of My Number cards as health insurance certificates in October 2021.
The authorities described the benefits of utilizing the cards as health insurance certificates: My Number cards can automate reception at medical establishments by a facial recognition system and permit medical doctors and pharmacists to view data corresponding to prescription information and specified medical checkups with a affected person’s consent.
However, solely round 30 % of medical establishments and pharmacies have put in devoted card readers. The health ministry plans to require them to introduce the techniques beginning in April 2023.
Only about 20 % of the inhabitants have registered My Number cards to be used as health insurance certificates.
In the Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform adopted in June this 12 months, the federal government said that it deliberate to scrap health insurance cards, in precept, however has not given a particular date for the abolition.
The authorities is contemplating reviewing the procedures and types of My Number cards to guarantee all residents get hold of them earlier than abolishing the present health insurance cards, in accordance to Kono.
The authorities goals to have nearly all residents get hold of My Number cards by the top of March 2023, however the issuance fee nonetheless stood at solely 49 % as of the top of September.
The focus is whether or not the federal government can additional unfold My Number cards earlier than the abolition of health insurance cards, in precept.
Since having a My Number card will not be obligatory, the federal government’s explanations and public understanding shall be important.
The authorities additionally plans to incorporate the motive force’s license operate into the My Number card by the top of March 2025. Kono stated the federal government is contemplating transferring up the schedule. Officials usually are not planning to abolish the prevailing driver’s licenses.
