Japan Telemedicine Facility Association Releases 'Complete Guide to Online Medical Consultation Facilities (20 Chapters)' Fully Compliant with Revised Medical Care Act — Japan's First Comprehensive Commentary Based on MHLW Primary Sources
The Japan Telemedicine Facility Association (JTFA) has released a free 'Complete Guide to Online Medical Consultation Facilities (20 Chapters)' fully compliant with the revised Medical Care Act, effective April 1, 2026. This guide responds to the demand for practical requirements and procedures following the legal positioning of online medical consultation facilities, where patients can receive care outside their homes.
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The Japan Telemedicine Facility Association (JTFA, Location: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Masatoshi Ishikawa, hereinafter 'the Association') has publicly released the 'Complete Guide to Online Medical Consultation Facilities [Fully Compliant with the 2026 Revised Medical Care Act]' (20 chapters in total) free of charge on the Association's official website.
■ Background of Publication
With the revised Medical Care Act (Article 2-2, Paragraph 2 of the Medical Care Act), effective April 1, 2026, 'Online Medical Consultation Facilities,' where patients can receive consultations outside their homes, have been legally positioned as 'medical care facilities' alongside hospitals, clinics, and midwifery centers. This entails a significantly advanced regulatory framework compared to previous guideline operations, including an obligation for establishments to notify prefectural governors (within 10 days of establishment), compliance with ministerial ordinance standards (5 equipment criteria), and subjection to on-site inspections and corrective orders.
However, comprehensive explanatory materials serving as practical guidelines for the new system have not been adequately prepared. As a result, numerous requests have been received from businesses considering implementation in locations such as train stations, retail stores, hotels, local government facilities, and workplaces, seeking specific requirements, procedures, and standards.
In response to these practical demands, the Association has published this guide as Japan's first comprehensive practical commentary, based on primary sources such as the revised Medical Care Act, Medical Care Act Enforcement Order, Medical Care Act Enforcement Regulations, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notifications, Social Security Council Medical Department distributed materials, and parliamentary supplementary resolutions.
■ Main Structure of the Guide (20 Chapters)
Chapter 1: What are Online Medical Consultation Facilities? (Definition, Differences from Clinics) / Chapter 2: Background of the Revised Medical Care Act / Chapter 3: Online Medical Consultation Standards (Elevation from Guidelines to Ministerial Ordinance) / Chapter 4: Requirements for Establishers / Chapter 5: Roles and Responsibilities of Operators / Chapter 6: Notification Flow (Within 10 Days of Establishment) / Chapter 7: Obligations of Managing Medical Institutions (Suitability Confirmation) / Chapter 8: Notification for Medical Institutions Providing Online Consultations / Chapter 9: Transitional Measures (Until the End of March 2027) / Chapter 10: Corrective Orders and Penalties for Violations / Chapter 11: Subsidies and Support Systems / Chapter 12: Considerations by Business Type (8 Types) / Chapter 13: Certification System / Chapter 14: Equipment and Supply Requirements / Chapter 15: Compliance with Security and Medical Information Safety Management Guidelines / Chapter 16: My Number Card Insurance Compatibility (Home Consent Acquisition Type) / Chapter 17: D to P with N (Nurse Accompaniment Type) / Chapter 18: Differences from Mobile Clinics and Medical MaaS / Chapter 19: International Cases (US, UK, Nordic Countries) / Chapter 20: Frequently Asked Questions
■ Public Page
The 'Complete Guide to Online Medical Consultation Facilities' is available for free viewing. The site also publishes related content such as checklists, glossaries, and commentaries on relevant provisions.
■ Future Developments
The Association will continue the following initiatives, starting with this guide:
Expansion of industry-specific guides (sequential release of detailed commentaries for each industry type, such as railway operators, hotels, convenience stores), full-scale operation of the JTFA certification system, continuous updates of notification window information and subsidy information for local governments nationwide, and compilation of a 2nd edition of this guide reflecting feedback from medical institutions, facility operators, and users.
■ Background of Publication
With the revised Medical Care Act (Article 2-2, Paragraph 2 of the Medical Care Act), effective April 1, 2026, 'Online Medical Consultation Facilities,' where patients can receive consultations outside their homes, have been legally positioned as 'medical care facilities' alongside hospitals, clinics, and midwifery centers. This entails a significantly advanced regulatory framework compared to previous guideline operations, including an obligation for establishments to notify prefectural governors (within 10 days of establishment), compliance with ministerial ordinance standards (5 equipment criteria), and subjection to on-site inspections and corrective orders.
However, comprehensive explanatory materials serving as practical guidelines for the new system have not been adequately prepared. As a result, numerous requests have been received from businesses considering implementation in locations such as train stations, retail stores, hotels, local government facilities, and workplaces, seeking specific requirements, procedures, and standards.
In response to these practical demands, the Association has published this guide as Japan's first comprehensive practical commentary, based on primary sources such as the revised Medical Care Act, Medical Care Act Enforcement Order, Medical Care Act Enforcement Regulations, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notifications, Social Security Council Medical Department distributed materials, and parliamentary supplementary resolutions.
■ Main Structure of the Guide (20 Chapters)
Chapter 1: What are Online Medical Consultation Facilities? (Definition, Differences from Clinics) / Chapter 2: Background of the Revised Medical Care Act / Chapter 3: Online Medical Consultation Standards (Elevation from Guidelines to Ministerial Ordinance) / Chapter 4: Requirements for Establishers / Chapter 5: Roles and Responsibilities of Operators / Chapter 6: Notification Flow (Within 10 Days of Establishment) / Chapter 7: Obligations of Managing Medical Institutions (Suitability Confirmation) / Chapter 8: Notification for Medical Institutions Providing Online Consultations / Chapter 9: Transitional Measures (Until the End of March 2027) / Chapter 10: Corrective Orders and Penalties for Violations / Chapter 11: Subsidies and Support Systems / Chapter 12: Considerations by Business Type (8 Types) / Chapter 13: Certification System / Chapter 14: Equipment and Supply Requirements / Chapter 15: Compliance with Security and Medical Information Safety Management Guidelines / Chapter 16: My Number Card Insurance Compatibility (Home Consent Acquisition Type) / Chapter 17: D to P with N (Nurse Accompaniment Type) / Chapter 18: Differences from Mobile Clinics and Medical MaaS / Chapter 19: International Cases (US, UK, Nordic Countries) / Chapter 20: Frequently Asked Questions
■ Public Page
The 'Complete Guide to Online Medical Consultation Facilities' is available for free viewing. The site also publishes related content such as checklists, glossaries, and commentaries on relevant provisions.
■ Future Developments
The Association will continue the following initiatives, starting with this guide:
Expansion of industry-specific guides (sequential release of detailed commentaries for each industry type, such as railway operators, hotels, convenience stores), full-scale operation of the JTFA certification system, continuous updates of notification window information and subsidy information for local governments nationwide, and compilation of a 2nd edition of this guide reflecting feedback from medical institutions, facility operators, and users.