The government on the 1st withdrew a plan that would have allowed hospitals to operate inpatient rooms without separating men and women. As opposition poured in over concerns about privacy violations and sex crimes, it decided to maintain gender-separated inpatient rooms as before.
Under the current enforcement rule of the Medical Service Act, inpatient rooms must be operated with men and women separated. If a hospital violates this, it faces a first corrective order and a second penalty of a 15-day business suspension. The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently preannounced legislation to revise the enforcement rule of the Medical Service Act to delete the obligation to separate by gender and collected opinions.
Patients strongly opposed the move, saying it was administration that failed to account for the particularities of multi-bed rooms. They said it is a violation of privacy and human rights to share the same space with the opposite sex behind only a curtain when situations such as replacing a urinary catheter or changing clothes are frequent in hospital rooms. They also said it failed to consider heightened public awareness of illegal filming and sexual harassment.
As public opinion worsened, the Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to maintain gender separation in inpatient rooms. However, it will allow exceptions when necessary, as long as there is no harm to other patients. Applicable cases include a married couple or immediate family sharing a double room for joint caregiving, or situations where it is difficult to operate an intensive care unit by separating patients by gender.