27.2% of National Medical Examination Takers Reluctant to Work in Rural Areas ~Survey of 2,583 Medical Examination Takers~

A survey conducted by MEC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Junko Hidaka) targeting examinees of the 120th National Medical Examination revealed that 27.2% of them feel reluctant to work in rural areas. This result partially substantiates the reality that medical students' perceptions contribute to "regional disparities in medical care," where inequalities exist in the number of medical institutions, doctors, and opportunities to receive specialized treatment depending on the residential area.

The most common reason for avoiding rural work was "convenience of living" (68.0%), followed by "family/partner circumstances" (42.8%). Furthermore, "education/child-rearing environment" (33.7%) and "anxiety about career development" (33.3%) also exceeded 30%, indicating that anxieties about daily life and concerns about future careers are the main factors.

Looking at the percentage of reluctance to work in rural areas by desired medical specialty, dermatology (49.1%), anesthesiology (45.5%), and ophthalmology (38.2%) showed a higher tendency. On the other hand, general internal medicine, which is considered to have high affinity with regional medical care, was the lowest at 11.4%, revealing a significant difference in the acceptable range of workplaces depending on the desired specialty.

Medical students, after passing the National Medical Examination, choose a clinical training hospital (training destination) where they will learn the basics of clinical practice for two years as initial residents. When selecting a training destination, "atmosphere/human relations" (25.0%) was the most emphasized item, followed by "work location/living environment" (19.3%) and "supervision system" (18.0%). "Salary/benefits" (7.1%) and "hospital's achievements/brand" (1.8%) were relatively low, indicating that young doctors tend to prioritize a comfortable working environment over treatment and recognition.

This survey was conducted by MEC Co., Ltd. targeting examinees of the 120th National Medical Examination. The purpose was to understand the career aspirations and values in selecting training destinations for medical students and young doctors, as well as their desired medical specialties. Responses were obtained on a wide range of topics related to the career development of young doctors, including their awareness regarding future specialty selection and training destination choices, interest in regional medical care and academic activities, and usage of generative AI.

MEC plans to conduct similar surveys in the next fiscal year and beyond, as well as various surveys targeting medical students and young doctors as needed. Going forward, we aim to resolve mismatches and ultimately correct the regional maldistribution of doctors through AI-powered matching support for students and training hospitals. Through these surveys and initiatives, we will further support the education and career development of each medical student and doctor, contribute to the sustainable development of the medical field, and realize our corporate slogan, "Fostering Better Doctors."

Survey Outline

Survey Period: February 7, 2026 - March 15, 2026

Target: 120th National Medical Examination examinees (9,980 people)

Survey Method: Web questionnaire

Number of Valid Responses: 2,583 people

Valid Response Rate: 25.9%

<Reference>
Reasons for avoiding rural work (multiple answers allowed)
*Targeted 703 respondents who indicated reluctance to work in rural areas
*Number of valid responses: 1,613

1st	Convenience of living	68.0%	(478)
2nd	Family/partner circumstances	42.8%	(301)
3rd	Education/child-rearing environment	33.7%	(237)
4th	Anxiety about career development	33.3%	(234)
5th	Local community/human relations	31.3%	(220)
6th	Medical standards/backup system	18.1%	(127)

Items emphasized when choosing a hospital (training destination)
*Number of valid responses: 2,583

1st	Atmosphere/human relations	25.0%	(645)
2nd	Work location/living environment	19.3%	(498)
3rd	Supervision system	18.0%	(466)
4th	Number of cases/medical content	11.7%	(303)
5th	Future career breadth	11.0%	(285)
6th	Salary/benefits	7.1%	(183)
7th	Workload	2.9%	(75)
8th	Hospital's achievements/brand	1.8%	(46)

Ranking of desired medical specialties (basic areas, first choice)
*Compiled from 19 basic medical specialties under the specialist system
*Number of valid responses: 2,582

1st	Internal Medicine	34.5%	(892)
2nd	Surgery	14.5%	(374)
3rd	Pediatrics	8.3%	(214)
4th	Obstetrics and Gynecology	5.7%	(147)
5th	Orthopedic Surgery	5.5%	(142)
6th	Emergency Medicine	4.4%	(113)
7th	Psychiatry	4.0%	(103)
8th	General Internal Medicine