Reasons for Proposal
The current Act stipulates that when an infection or a disease is suspected or has occurred to a pregnant woman or an infant, a post-natal care business operator shall immediately take necessary measures such as transferring them to a medical institution, etc., and report such fact to the head of a public health center, and that a post-natal care business operator shall receive education about infection prevention, etc., on a regular basis.
However, despite such regulations regarding infection prevention, the last four years have seen the number of newborn babies’ infection in post-natal care centers skyrocket nearly nine times, and it remains a fact that post-natal care centers remain in a blind spot for infection control. Moreover, the subject of education about infection prevention, etc., is limited to post-natal care business operators, and under the existing law, the post-natal care workers who have direct contact with newborn babies and their mothers have no obligation to receive such education.
Hence, this Amendment aims to require a post-natal care business operator to identify, where a pregnant woman or an infant is transferred to a medical institution because an infection or disease is suspected or has occurred, the type of infection or disease and to take necessary measures such as infection, isolation, etc., to prevent it from spreading. Also, post-natal care workers as well as post-natal care business operators shall be obligated to receive regular education on infection prevention, etc., to strengthen infection control in post-natal care centers and to contribute to the health of pregnant women and newborn babies (Article 15-4, paragraph 4 newly inserted; Article 15-6, paragraph 1).
Major Provisions
Require a post-natal care business operator, where a pregnant woman or an infant is transferred to a medical institution because an infection or disease is suspected or has occurred, to identify the type of infection or disease and to take necessary measures such as infection, isolation, etc. to prevent it from spreading (Article 15-4)
Require post-natal care workers to receive regular education on infection prevention, etc. provided by the Minister of Health and Welfare on a regular basis (Article 15-6)
