September 6, 2024 Implementation of Demonstration Project for Online Medical Examination and Online Medication Counseling at Post Offices, etc., under FY2024 Project for Promoting Collaboration among Post Offices and Other Regional Public Infrastructure

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), as part of its Project for Promoting Collaboration among Post Offices and Other Regional Public Infrastructure since FY2022, will conduct a demonstration project for online medical examinations and online medication counseling at a post office from Tuesday, September 17, as specified below.

1. Overview

 Since 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has been implementing a project to promote collaboration among post offices and other regional public infrastructure, utilizing digital technology and the nationwide network of 24,000 post offices, with the aim of conducting demonstration projects to solve regional issues through collaboration between post offices and local governments and other regional public infrastructure, and deploying model cases throughout the country.
 As part of this project, a demonstration project for online medical examinations and online medication counseling will be implemented utilizing the vacant space of a post office on a remote island in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture in this fiscal year under the theme of ensuring accessibility to medical services on remote islands*1. This initiative is based on the institutional system announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in January 2024 regarding the place and conditions that specially allow access to online medical services*2 and is intended to ensure online medical examinations, etc., for the elderly and others by utilizing the vacant space of the post office.

• *1
  This is the first time in Japan that online medical examinations and online medication counseling will be provided using the vacant space of a post office on a remote island.
• *2
  “Establishment of clinics for online medical examinations without doctors on-site as an exceptional case” (PSB/MDED Notification No. 0116-2 dated January 16, 2024)

2. Demonstration overview

1. Place of implementation

 Heigun Post Office (1827-2 Heigun, Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture)

2. Implementation period

 Tuesday, September 17 to Wednesday, December 11, 2024 (scheduled)
 Every Monday and Wednesday during the above period

3. Details of demonstration project

 A small booth ensuring privacy will be set up in the Heigun Post Office, which is connected to Shuto General Hospital, a remote medical center, via the Internet. The patients with diseases and conditions suitable for online medical services will receive real-time medical treatment from their family doctor through information and communication devices.
Patients who receive prescriptions through online medical examinations can, if they wish, also receive online medication counseling through the Internet connected to a cooperating pharmacy (Yanai Pharmacy).

3. Other

 A demonstration project launch ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17 at Heigun Post Office.