The estimated medical expenses paid to medical institutions nationwide for the treatment of illness and injury in the 2nd year of Reiwa last year were about 42.2 trillion yen, due to the effects of the new coronavirus, such as refraining from seeing medical institutions. , Decreased for the first time in 4 years.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has announced estimated medical expenses that do not include medical treatment that is covered by workers' accident compensation insurance or if the patient pays the full amount.
According to this, last year and the second year of Reiwa, it was 42,164.7 billion yen, a decrease of about 1.4 trillion yen, or 3.2%, compared to the previous year.
The decrease in medical expenses has been the first in four years since 2016, and the rate of decrease is the highest ever.
Medical expenses per capita were 335,000 yen, a decrease of 10,000 yen from the previous year, or 2.9%, and especially for preschoolers, it was a 17% decrease from the previous year.
By outpatient department, pediatrics accounted for 22.2% and otolaryngology 19.7%, both of which decreased from the previous year.
On the other hand, the medical expenses for those who were diagnosed with the new corona as the main disease name were about 120 billion yen.
Regarding the decrease in medical expenses, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said, "In addition to" refraining from seeing medical institutions "due to the influence of the new corona, we have taken measures against infection such as wearing masks and thoroughly washing hands. The number of organ diseases has decreased significantly. "