“Pay 40,000 Won More to Be Seen First”... Even Hospitals Let Patients Buy Time With Money Through a “Fast Pass” [What Do You Think?]

[Financial News] The “Fast Pass,” a paid priority pass for skipping lines previously seen only at amusement parks and popular restaurants, is being introduced at some hospitals and clinics in Japan, fueling heated debate over equity in healthcare. Supporters say it dramatically cuts waiting times and makes care more convenient, while critics argue that paying to move up the treatment queue undermines healthcare’s public role.

According to local media, including Japan’s Yomiuri TV, on the 26th, a growing number of hospitals, mainly in Tokyo, have recently introduced a “medical Fast Pass” system that charges an additional fee to prioritize check-in, consultations and payment.
An orthopedic clinic in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward offers a Fast Pass that provides priority care from start to finish for 4,400 yen (about 37,000 won). When the clinic is crowded, the process from check-in to leaving can usually take at least an hour and a half, but patients using the pass can complete everything in 15 to 20 minutes. The clinic limits bookings to one person every 30 minutes and refunds the fee if the wait reaches 10 minutes or more. Another clinic in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward has also introduced a low-cost Fast Pass for around 500 yen (about 4,200 won), attracting interest from busy office workers.
The hospitals offering the service emphasize the flexibility of healthcare. One clinic director explained, “We have expanded access to care so people who are short on time because of work can get treatment when they need it,” adding, “We give emergency patients top priority, so this does not disadvantage regular patients.” Medical journalist Mori Madoka likewise said, “Emergency treatment for seriously ill patients and paid, time-saving appointments for patients with mild conditions need to be considered separately,” and assessed concerns that the service could compromise safety as low.

But strong opposition has emerged among the public and some in the medical community. In a survey of 300 citizens conducted by Yomiuri TV, 71.7% opposed introducing hospital Fast Passes, far more than the 28.3% who supported them.
Opponents said, “The order of treatment should be determined by the urgency of the illness, not the size of your wallet,” and “When it comes to access to hospitals, everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their financial means.” Some have also pointed out that the system is zero-sum: if a small number of people who pay get seen first, waiting times increase for regular patients by the same amount.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter