The pandemic brought about post-pandemic changes in the
vertical relationship between the central government (CG) and local governments
(LGs) and in the horizontal relationship between the government and private
institutions.
First, regarding the vertical relationship, in cases where
CG and LGs differed in policies, the system was designed to form a consensus
based on “comprehensive coordination”. Natural disasters such as earthquakes
require rapid decision-making due to the characteristics of immediacy of
damage. On the other hand, concerning infectious diseases, it takes a certain
amount of time to spread, and the phenomenon is invisible. Under these
circumstances, it is difficult to make comprehensive adjustments. As a result,
clashes of opinions often arose between CG and LGs. The CG has the mission of
ensuring the economic life of the entire nation, while the LG has the mission
of ensuring lives within its own area of jurisdiction. It was feared that the
time spent in coordinating the clash between these two missions would lead to
the spread of infection. To address these challenges, the Local Autonomy Law
was amended to institutionalize CG’s authority to give instructions to LGs in
2024. Some LG chiefs expressed concern that this amendment would increase CG’s
strong involvement. Its operation will be a future issue.
Second, regarding the horizontal relationship, the revised
Infectious Diseases Law provides a framework for an “agreement” concluded in
ordinary times between prefecture and private hospital to secure a certain
number of beds exclusively for the pandemic. Private hospitals were highly
resistant to the compulsory order from the prefecture to secure beds, but it
would be more appropriate for them to form an agreement based on negotiations.
Targeting the invisible event of infectious diseases and
controlling human movement were unprecedented administrative challenges. In
response to them, the bureaucracy must work through a process of trial and
error to create a new intergovernmental relationships that are supported by the
public’s trust.