Policies and Practices of Cross-border Teleconsultation in Japan

Teleconsultation in Japan was initially introduced as a doctor-to-doctor or dentist-to-dentist (D-to-D) service, restricted to non-emergency, follow-up consultations for patients already under medical care and in stable condition. Following the onset of COVID-19 in February 2020 and the resulting restrictions on international travel, demand increased not only for first-time doctor-to-patient (D-to-P) consultations within Japan but also for cross-border teleconsultations. This study aimed to examine the regulatory evolution and implementation challenges of cross-border teleconsultation in Japan. While cross-border teleconsultation offers accessible and convenient care for international patients, broader implementation remains limited due to challenges such as inadequate international patient support systems and the absence of consistent international legal frameworks. The findings highlight the need to develop standardized international telemedicine frameworks and to establish robust communication channels among governments.