Japan's Cabinet has approved revisions to laws covering infectious diseases. Officials are hoping the national healthcare system will be more prepared the next time an outbreak strikes.

The revisions call on prefectural governments to draft their own plans to contain disease outbreaks. Numerical targets include hospital bed numbers.

Local governments will also be required to sign agreements in advance with key medical institutions. These will obligate hospitals to secure beds and provide outpatient care in the event of an outbreak.

The revisions include financial assistance as well -- if a hospital's business suffers any income loss due to an increased emphasis on treating infectious diseases.

Kawakita General Hospital in Tokyo has been granted special status by the Metropolitan Government as a core healthcare provider. The head of the hospital, Sugimura Yoichi, says he supports the idea of obliging key local medical facilities to cooperate.

He also welcomes the plan to compensate such facilities for any business losses.

Sugimura said hospitals could become short-staffed or suffer reputational damage. He said the government should provide assistance, taking account of any possible negative consequences.

The revisions include penalties for non-compliance -- including "naming and shaming." Medical facilities that fail to abide by their agreements with prefectures will have their names publicized.

Core healthcare providers such as academic medical centers may also have their assistance status revoked if they do not comply with the agreements.