Those who become pregnant should obtain a pregnancy notification (ninshin todokede-sho) at a hospital and submit it to the health center in their residential area, which will issue a maternal and child health handbook (boshi kenko techo) and explain the options for prenatal checkups and classes for mothers. The handbook is for recording health checkups during pregnancy and the history of the baby’s growth, and should be kept in a safe place. Handbooks in foreign languages are also available.
The health center also provides consultation services on pregnancy, childbirth and childcare.
The ward office must be notified of births, and newborn babies must be registered as foreign residents.
nform your local health center of the birth by mailing the postcard contained in the maternal and child health handbook.
An instructor from the health center visits homes to offer consultation on childcare and explanations of child checkups and childcare classes conducted at the center.
Children can receive free regular medical examinations and vaccinations to protect their health (against polio, BCG, etc.) at the health center.
The center also conducts classes teaching how to manage children’s health, how to play with children, and children’s nutrition, as well as holding parties to encourage interaction among mothers.
Those covered under the National Health Insurance Program are eligible to receive a lump-sum birth allowance of \350,000 per child. This can be applied for at the relevant ward office. Take your health insurance card, your maternal and child health handbook, notifications of health insurance premiums paid, your bankbook and personal seal when applying.
Those belonging to the health insurance program offered by their employer can apply for benefits at the workplace.
Child allowances are offered to those raising children under elementary school graduation age (i.e., before the end of the first March after their 12th birthday). No allowance is paid if income exceeds a certain level.
The amount is \10,000 per month for children aged two or younger and \5,000 per month for the first/second child aged three or older (\10,000 per month for children after the second child). Application procedures are completed at the ward office.