A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry study group has compiled a booklet on workplace improvements medical organizations need to make to prevent female doctors from quitting during pregnancy or child rearing.

"Female doctors are on the rise and encouraging them to continue working is an important step to preventing the medical system from collapsing," the booklet states. "It will lead to greater safety of patients."

A government survey says that women account for about 17 percent of all doctors and about 36 percent of doctors in their 20s.