Recently, there were news reports on some maternity hospitals which let expectant mothers to look into the operating room during a cesarean section as part of a hospital tour program; therefore, critics point out that it is necessary to strengthen the access control for facilities vulnerable to infection, such as operating rooms and delivery rooms.

However, the current Act only prescribes, with respect to the prevention of hospital infections, the establishment of an infection control committee and the implementation of infection prevention education for persons who work for a medical institution, but not separate restrictions on access to the operating room, delivery room, etc.; thus, this largely relies on the autonomy of individual medical institutions.

Accordingly, this Amendment aims to restrict people's access to the facilities that requrie special infection control, such as operating and delivery rooms, other than the minimum number of persons such as medical personnel engaged in the work and persons necessary for the management thereof (Article 47 (3) newly inserted).

For facilities requiring special infection control, such as operating rooms, delivery rooms, and intensive care units, the head of a medical institution shall restrict people’s access to such facilities other than the minimum number of persons such as medical personnel engaged in the work and persons necessary for the management of the facilities, as prescribed by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Article 47).