40% Decrease in Birthing Facilities in the Prefecture Over 15 Years.

Breaking news "Gunma Prefecture".
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A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that the number of delivery facilities in the prefecture has decreased by approximately 40% over the past 15 years.
Behind this is a shortage of obstetricians and a declining birthrate, a trend spreading nationwide.
The national government has launched a system to subsidize transportation costs for pregnant women who live more than an hour away from a delivery facility, but only two towns and villages in the prefecture have applied.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare believes that a lack of awareness of the system is one of the factors behind this, and is urging local governments to make active use of the system in the future.