The Japanese government is currently in discussions to raise the basic medical fees by over 3%. This move comes as an approach to acknowledge the hard work put forth by medical professionals, especially in the times of pandemic, and as a necessary amendment to maintain the financial stability of the country's healthcare system. The decision on the implementation of these fee raises, however, is yet to be made.

Healthcare is a highly valued commodity in Japan, underpinned by Japan’s world-renowned healthcare system, ranking highest in healthcare access and quality in Asia. This news matters to Japanese citizens as it directly impacts out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and could potentially lead to a more heavy financial burden for the public.

Both EU and the US have seen similar situations where there is a push to increase remuneration for medical professionals while trying to balance the impact of higher healthcare costs on its citizens. Each region handles it differently, with countries like the UK maintaining a publicly funded national health service, and the US primarily relying on private healthcare insurance with government programs for certain segments of the population.