4 days ago
Noto's elderly residents face higher medical costs after 2024 quake
Medical expenses for elderly residents in parts of the Noto Peninsula hit by last year's New Year's Day earthquake have grown to as much as 1.3 times of what they cost before the disaster, underscoring the growing burden on regional health care systems a year and a half after the temblor.
As reconstruction efforts drag on in Ishikawa Prefecture, the number of people experiencing physical and mental health issues is increasing, and questions are being raised on how an effective support system can be established.
According to a prefectural union for medical care for the elderly, per-capita medical expenses for residents age 75 and older in the year ended March 2025 reached ¥998,131 ($6,933) in the city of Wajima and ¥1,012,399 in the city of Suzu — an increase of 20% and 35%, respectively, from those in fiscal 2022. In the towns of Anamizu and Noto, the costs were roughly 1.1 times of pre-quake levels.
The uptick reflects the strain of prolonged displacement of residents and major lifestyle disruptions following the disaster, which struck on Jan. 1, 2024.
'Many people barely walked during the period that they were evacuated,' said Junji Senma, head of the northern Noto medical association. 'Once their physical strength deteriorated, even small things could lead to falls and injuries.'
Takuya Nakagawa, a physical therapist at Anamizu General Hospital, said, 'At first, people were motivated after moving into temporary housing, but with no clear end in sight, many have become mentally worn down.'
Some sought care while medical expenses were temporarily waived through June with the aim of taking advantage of the waiver to treat lingering issues and maintain their health, he said.
'While we currently have the support of many organizations, that will dwindle after two years. The challenge is how we continue protecting these people after that,' Nakagawa, who is responsible for monitoring elderly residents in temporary housing under a prefectural contract, warned.
Depopulation and a decline in local bus and taxi services post-quake have made access to care even harder. Teruhiro Sejima, a doctor operating a clinic in Noto, voiced concern about the rise of 'medical abandonment' — people unable to receive care despite needing it.
A 90-year-old woman living alone in temporary housing in Wajima relies on her son in the city of Kanazawa to help her attend biweekly hospital visits in a neighboring town.
'Even when I catch a cold, I can't go to the hospital when I need to,' the woman said.
Home visits have also become more difficult due to staff shortages.
'We need to rethink how we sustain routine medical care across the board — through cooperation between local governments and health care institutions,' Sejima said.
Translated by The Japan Times
