OSAKA — After years of planning, a regional alliance of seven prefectures was created earlier this year and held its first meeting this month.
The Kansai Regional League, which includes Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Shiga, Wakayama, Tokushima and Tottori, is the first of its kind and is designed to cut through prefectural and local government red tape and make it easier for participating officials to cooperate on everything from disaster relief to tourism.
Of special interest to rural members facing shortages of doctors and nurses is the increased availability of medical flights and emergency medical services participation in the league is expected to bring.