Japan is moving towards establishing a "standard cost" for prenatal examinations, as indicated by various reports. The move aims to make the essential health service more accessible, setting uniform charges to ensure pregnant women from all walks of life can afford regular checkups. The specific details of how this will be implemented and when it will take effect have not been disclosed thus far.

In Japan, accessibility and fairness in healthcare are core social values. Many Japanese are concerned about the potential financial burden of medical care during pregnancy. Therefore, the standardization of prenatal care costs is seen as a significant step towards eradicating these concerns and promoting social equality.

In the US, the cost of prenatal care varies widely across states and insurance plans, often leading to disparities in access. On the other hand, many EU countries, including the UK and France, provide free or heavily subsidized prenatal care, promoting equal access for all women.