Japan Press Weekly

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2013 January 30 - February 5 [WELFARE]

More than 70% of sick-child care centers operate in red

A recent survey has shown that more than 70% of daycare centers offering care for sick children are operating in the red. The following is an excerpt of an Akahata interview with Inami Makoto, representing a national council on sick child care which conducted the survey:

Children, whether they are healthy or sick, need care to develop physically, mentally, and socially. Experts in childcare and nursing need to be assigned to ensure a sound development.

Children’s illnesses have seasonal outbreaks, and about 30% of parents’ reservations with daycare centers for sick children are cancelled. Such a high rate inevitably comes with sick child care due to sudden changes in their conditions. Just because parents cancel the reservation, the facilities cannot ask daycare staff, whom they secure the day before, to go home. Many daycare facilities taking care of sick children try to hire regular staff, but it is financially difficult.

Since 2009, the national government has determined its share of expenses paid to such facilities based on how many children used their services. This piecework payment system creates difficulty for small-sized facilities in operating in the countryside as well as prevents the opening of new facilities.

Daycare facilities for sick children cannot receive state funds for their initial costs for their opening or land and building rents. Some municipalities subsidize them by attaching them to their ordinary daycare centers to have doctor’s round of visits, but the state government fails to do so. In many cases, therefore, doctors voluntarily visit daycare facilities for sick children.

It is difficult for children in bad health conditions to spend time with adults whom they do not know in an unfamiliar environment. Facilities to take care of them need to have enough space and enough staff who are capable of taking care of children of different ages. In order for such facilities to play a role in supporting childcare in their communities, an increase in the national government’s financial aid is needed.