Japan to strengthen fertility treatment consultation system

Japan will strengthen its consultation system for fertility treatment as its public health insurance program starts covering such treatment in April. The health ministry plans to integrate related public consultation windows under a single system. The new facilities will help people with specialist advice and provide emotional support to women who feel anxious. In the fiscal 2022 revision of official medical fees, the public insurance coverage will be extended to fertility treatment such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination as part of efforts to shore up the country's falling birthrate. Thanks to this, costs of fertility treatment that have been fully paid by patients will be limited to 30% in principle.