An incorporated association promoting the globalization of Japanese medical services said it will publicly solicit medical institutions seeking to be registered on a list of hospitals prepared to treat foreign patients.

Compiling the list has been planned under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s growth strategy as the administration seeks to boost the number of foreign patients coming to Japan for medical treatment.

Backed by the government, Medical Excellence Japan (MEJ) will compile the list of hospitals that treat more than 10 patients from overseas a year and have operations designed to treat these “medial tourists.”

Applicant hospitals will be screened by a panel set up by MEJ, which plans to register 20 to 30 medical institutions on the list by the end of the year.

MEJ had initially planned to make the list by the end of March but ran into delays drawing up the criterion for listing.

The association is aiming to expand Japan-style medical services overseas, noting on its website that the nation’s “medical treatments supporting its health and longevity have outstanding features,” including advanced treatment for cancer, less invasive treatment, like intravascular treatment, and hospitality in medical services.

The Tokyo-based body in April launched a forum to encourage medical institutions to exchange expertise and information to promote their globalization. MEJ is also promoting establishment of medical institutions overseas by Japanese hospitals.