Doctor Shortage Worsens in Regional Healthcare… Clinics Closing, Departments Shrinking One After Another; Japan’s Medical System Faces Turning Point – “Gaiа’s Dawn” Broadcast on the 17th – d menu news

News Highlights

On April 17, 2026, the broadcast “Gaiа’s Dawn” highlighted the worsening doctor shortage in regional healthcare. This has led to a series of clinic closures and department reductions, indicating that Japan’s medical provision system is at a turning point. The news touched upon the fact that while closing a clinic incurs costs of several million yen, the benchmark price for business succession is typically 0.5 to 1.5 times the annual sales. It also noted that the succession of clinics without beds often takes 4 to 10 months from consultation to completion, and that consulting before closure can potentially allow for both the continuation of staff employment and patient care.

M&A Medical Editorial Department’s Perspective

The doctor shortage in regional healthcare, pointed out by “Gaiа’s Dawn,” is not merely a superficial issue of personnel shortages. Particularly for small, non-bed clinics in rural areas where doctors are aging, closure often becomes an option, but the associated costs can reach several million yen. On the other hand, when clinics facing a lack of successors are taken over through M&A, the offering price of 0.5 to 1.5 times annual sales is extremely important from the perspective of maintaining regional healthcare. For example, for a clinic with annual sales of 50 million yen, this translates to a business continuation cost of 25 to 75 million yen. This can be a realistic option to prevent healthcare gaps in the region caused by closures and to ensure the continuity of employment for staff and ongoing medical care for patients. The timeframe of 4 to 10 months from consultation to completion suggests the necessity of planned succession.

Points Raised by This News

• Clinic closures due to doctor shortages involve cost burdens of several million yen.
• M&A of clinics through business succession offers the potential to maintain regional healthcare at a price of 0.5 to 1.5 times annual sales.
• Succession of clinics without beds requires an average of 4 to 10 months from consultation to completion, making early consideration crucial.
• Consulting with an M&A intermediary before closure can facilitate both the continuation of staff employment and patient care.

Practical Questions Arising from This News

• What are the specific costs associated with closing a clinic (demolition costs, residual processing costs, etc.) for those considering closure?
• How is the price range of 0.5 to 1.5 times annual sales calculated when taking over a clinic without a successor through M&A?
• What specific schemes can be considered to achieve the continuation of staff employment and patient care through M&A?

“Should I Consult Too?” If You Feel This Way

If your clinic is facing a doctor shortage and you are considering future closure or departmental downsizing, it is worth exploring the possibility of business succession first. While closure incurs costs of several million yen, succession through M&A offers the potential to maintain regional healthcare and show consideration for staff and patients. Considering that it takes 4 to 10 months from consultation to completion, we recommend consulting with specialists early to compare closure costs with succession prices.

M&A Medical (CentralMedience Inc.) supports the business succession of medical corporations, hospitals, and clinics on a full success-fee basis as an M&A support institution certified by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. Consultations are accepted with strict confidentiality. Free consultations are available here.