A tenth of the nation's hospitals are not fully quake-resistant, with some or all of their buildings failing to meet national quake-proofing standards, a recently released health ministry survey says.
About 70 percent of the 8,477 hospitals nationwide surveyed last September said all of their buildings were expected to withstand an earthquake rated upper 6 or higher on the 7-point Japanese seismic intensity scale, in line with quake-resistance standards.
But 20.6 percent, or 1,747 hospitals, said they did not know the quake-resistance level of their buildings.
The outcome of the annual survey highlighted the pressing need to improve the quake-resistance of medical institutions. The deadly earthquakes in Kyushu last month disrupted medical services by damaging hospital buildings with shaking that reached the maximum level of 7 on the intensity scale.
The 850 hospitals that did not fully meet quake-proofing standards included 89 that are designated by authorities to play a key role during disasters. The 89 facilities were among 712 emergency medical care centers and prefecture-designated hospitals expected to accept patients around the clock in an emergency.
Hospitals may be lacking funds to refurbish, but they also tend to invest more in advanced medical equipment rather than disaster-mitigation efforts because they can quickly feel the benefits of the investment, said Junko Ikeuchi, a professor of architecture at Setsunan University.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is encouraging hospitals to use state subsidies to enhance the quake-resistance of their buildings.