Japan and Singapore Care Market Briefing — 2026-06-11
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Japan is looking to relax staffing standards to keep care services running in shrinking regions, while Singapore is shifting toward social-based care by expanding mental health facilities.
Japan and Singapore Care Market Briefing — 2026-06-11
Japan Care Market Trends
1. Easing staffing standards to maintain care in shrinking regions
There is an ongoing debate regarding a new approach to ease requirements, such as staffing ratios, under the Nursing Care Insurance Act to ensure services continue in areas facing population decline. However, concerns about a potential drop in service quality have also been raised.
2. Interim implementation of nursing care fee revisions in June 2026
Revised nursing care fees will go into effect on an interim basis starting June 2026, involving changes to the unit counts and calculation methods for various services, including daily life nursing care for facility residents.
3. Reviewing the effectiveness of national policy for nursing talent
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) is pushing for local-tailored talent acquisition policies via a new prefecture-based "platform" system. However, a gap remains between policy and reality on the ground.
Singapore Care Market Trends
1. Shifting to social care by expanding mental health facilities
Singapore opened a new mental health care facility in May 2026, with a psychiatric rehabilitation center planned for July and a second mental health facility slated for 2029. This reflects a shift in policy focus from medical-based care to social-based care.
2. Medical reform as a core pillar of aging policy
Medical reform in nursing facilities is now a priority for aging society policies, with efforts growing to improve the quality of senior care services.
3. TPG enters Singapore and Malaysia care markets
Major asset management firm TPG has established a senior healthcare services subsidiary in Singapore and Malaysia, currently operating 16 care facilities along with ambulance and medical transport services.
Policy and Market Implications
1. Balancing accessibility through deregulation vs. maintaining quality
Both nations are pursuing policies to relax or make regulatory standards more flexible to meet rising demand. Japan’s staffing adjustments and Singapore’s medical reforms acknowledge the practical constraints on service providers while aiming to increase access—though concerns about quality must be addressed.
2. Acceleration of private capital in the care market
While the entry of major asset managers like TPG is accelerating in Singapore’s care market, Japan still maintains a state-led policy stance. This highlights the differences in structure and maturity between the two countries' care markets.
3. Paradigm shift from medical to social care
Singapore’s move toward social-based care via mental health expansion and Japan’s development of local community-based care talent platforms both reflect a global trend of moving away from institutionalized care toward integrated, community-centered support.
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