🩺 Family doctor search added to Navii

❓ What's changing?

The kakaritsuke-i (family doctor) function reporting system was created by a 2023 revision of the Medical Care Act, made under Act No. 31 of 2023 (the law to build a sustainable, all-generation social security system, enacted and promulgated in May 2023). The system took effect in April 2025. Its aims are to strengthen the family-doctor functions each community needs, and to give the public information that helps them choose a medical institution, thereby improving medical services overall. MHLW has now announced that the first round of reports submitted by medical institutions under the system has been posted on the Medical Information Network, known as Navii. Until now, Navii was mainly used to search by basic details such as department or location; from now on you can also narrow your search using items related to family-doctor functions. Because the reporting rate has built up to a reasonable level, MHLW is encouraging the public to use Navii when looking for a family doctor in their area. On the Navii top page, the "かかりつけ医機能" button takes you to the search-condition page.

👥 Who is affected?

• ●Foreign residents who want ongoing care and health management in Japan
• ●People with a chronic condition who want a regular neighborhood clinic
• ●Anyone moving or being transferred who needs to find clinics in a new area
• ●Families lining up care for elderly relatives or children in advance
• ●People who are unsure how to find a clinic and end up at a large hospital every time

🌏 Impact on foreign residents

In Japan you are encouraged to have a nearby clinic you can turn to first when you feel unwell, but foreign residents often lack the information needed to judge which clinic suits them. With this posting, you can narrow your search on Navii using items related to family-doctor functions, making it easier to check what role a given institution plays in the community before you visit. That is especially useful if you move often, or if you are planning to bring family members to Japan, because you can compare several candidates before deciding. Keep in mind that the listings come from what each institution reported, and the reporting rate is still building up, so clinics near you may not appear yet. If that happens, also use your municipal counter or local consultation services. This is less relevant for short-term tourists needing sudden care, but worth learning if you plan a long stay.