Over 2 Million Signatures Submitted Calling for Reinstatement of Paper Health Cards Amid "Too Many Problems" with My Number Health Insurance Card

Over two million signatures have been submitted, calling for the reinstatement of the traditional "paper health insurance card" due to "too many problems" with the "My Number Health Insurance Card," which is integrated with the My Number Card promoted by the government. This signature campaign highlights various issues with the introduction and operation of the My Number Health Insurance Card, asserting that "reissuing paper health insurance cards is the only solution."

The Vice-Chairperson of Zenroren (National Confederation of Trade Unions), who spearheaded the signature campaign, severely criticized the My Number Health Insurance Card, pointing out the inconvenience and numerous problems for users, such as the requirement for facial recognition or other authentication methods when presented at reception, and issues like the expiration of electronic certificates or the card itself. They stated, "It's inconvenient and has too many problems."

Furthermore, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revealed that approximately 60% of hospitals and clinics that responded indicated "cost burdens for the introduction and operation (of the My Number Health Insurance Card)." This highlights the reality that implementing and maintaining the My Number Health Insurance Card system is becoming a new burden for medical institutions already facing severe financial challenges due to rising prices.

SNS Voices: A Whirlwind of Pros and Cons

The news of this signature submission has generated a significant reaction on social media. While calls for the reinstatement of paper health insurance cards have risen, many opinions also praise the convenience of the My Number Health Insurance Card or question the signature campaign itself.

Users who have experienced the convenience of the My Number Health Insurance Card have commented, "I used the My Number Health Insurance Card when I went to the dentist recently, and it was convenient," and "It's convenient for us without any glitches, and I find it convenient when I use it too." There are also opinions questioning the resistance to facial recognition systems, such as, "I don't understand why people are so averse to presenting a photo ID to receive medical care."

On the other hand, critical opinions regarding the signature campaign and its underlying motives are also observed, such as, "Too many problems? Aren't they just making it seem like there are many? Of course, there are some," "I think we can ignore such foolish claims," and "I could understand it if it were a temporary alternative to fix flaws and improve digitization... but why don't they think about dedicating that wasted, troublesome energy to learning about modern technology?" Some even pointed to political intentions, stating, "The labor union leading this is a communist sympathizer," and "I think communist-affiliated medical institutions are intentionally announcing problems or unavailability."

Furthermore, some suggested addressing the burden on medical institutions by proposing, "Since it increases the hassle in medical administration and the effort for sharing drug data, it would be fine to collect a fee of 1,000 to 5,000 yen per visit." Other comments alluded to Japan's lagging digitization, stating, "This encapsulates the reasons why Japan has become an IT laggard."

The submission of over two million signatures once again highlights the challenges in the dissemination and operation of the My Number Health Insurance Card, suggesting that more active discussion is needed regarding the future direction of the healthcare system and digitization in Japan.

The Context

The My Number Card is Japan's national identification card system, introduced in 2016, similar to a Social Security Number or National Insurance Number in other countries. It was designed to streamline administrative procedures across social security, taxation, and disaster relief. The "My Number Health Insurance Card" is an initiative to integrate a person's health insurance information directly onto their My Number Card, aiming to improve efficiency in medical settings. However, its rollout has been plagued with controversy and problems. Issues include frequent data entry errors leading to incorrect patient information, technical glitches with card readers at medical facilities, privacy concerns, and the perceived inconvenience for users, particularly the elderly, due to the need for facial recognition or other digital authentication methods. Medical institutions have also reported significant cost burdens for installing and maintaining the necessary digital infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the Japanese government plans to phase out traditional paper health insurance cards in autumn 2024, making the My Number Card the primary method of health insurance verification, further fueling public debate and resistance.