27.2% of National Medical Examination Takers Reluctant to Work in Rural Areas ~Survey of 2,583 Medical Examination Takers~

A survey conducted by MEC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Junko Hidaka) targeting examinees of the 120th National Medical Examination revealed that 27.2% of them feel reluctant to work in rural areas. This result partially substantiates the reality that medical students' perceptions contribute to "regional disparities in medical care," where inequalities exist in the number of medical institutions, doctors, and opportunities to receive specialized treatment depending on the residential area.

The most common reason for avoiding rural work was "convenience of living" (68.0%), followed by "family/partner circumstances" (42.8%). Furthermore, "education/child-rearing environment" (33.7%) and "anxiety about career development" (33.3%) also exceeded 30%, indicating that anxieties about daily life and concerns about future careers are the main factors.

Looking at the percentage of reluctance to work in rural areas by desired medical specialty, dermatology (49.1%), anesthesiology (45.5%), and ophthalmology (38.2%) showed a higher tendency. On the other hand, general internal medicine, which is considered to have high affinity with regional medical care, was the lowest at 11.4%, revealing a significant difference in the acceptable range of workplaces depending on the desired specialty.

Medical students, after passing the National Medical Examination, choose a clinical training hospital (training destination) where they will learn the basics of clinical practice for two years as initial residents. When selecting a training destination, "atmosphere/human relations" (25.0%) was the most emphasized item, followed by "work location/living environment" (19.3%) and "supervision system" (18.0%). "Salary/benefits" (7.1%) and "hospital's achievements/brand" (1.8%) were relatively low, indicating that young doctors tend to prioritize a comfortable working environment over treatment and recognition.

This survey was conducted by MEC Co., Ltd. targeting examinees of the 120th National Medical Examination. The purpose was to understand the career aspirations and values in selecting training destinations for medical students and young doctors, as well as their desired medical specialties. Responses were obtained on a wide range of topics related to the career development of young doctors, including their awareness regarding future specialty selection and training destination choices, interest in regional medical care and academic activities, and usage of generative AI.

MEC plans to conduct similar surveys in the next fiscal year and beyond, as well as various surveys targeting medical students and young doctors as needed. Going forward, we aim to resolve mismatches and ultimately correct the regional maldistribution of doctors through AI-powered matching support for students and training hospitals. Through these surveys and initiatives, we will further support the education and career development of each medical student and doctor, contribute to the sustainable development of the medical field, and realize our corporate slogan, "Fostering Better Doctors."

Survey Outline

Survey Period: February 7, 2026 - March 15, 2026

Target: 120th National Medical Examination examinees (9,980 people)

Survey Method: Web questionnaire

Number of Valid Responses: 2,583 people

Valid Response Rate: 25.9%

Reasons for avoiding rural work (multiple answers allowed) *Targeted 703 respondents who indicated reluctance to work in rural areas *Number of valid responses: 1,613

1st

Convenience of living

68.0%

(478)

2nd

Family/partner circumstances

42.8%

(301)

3rd

Education/child-rearing environment

33.7%

(237)

4th

Anxiety about career development

33.3%

(234)

5th

Local community/human relations

31.3%

(220)

6th

Medical standards/backup system

18.1%

(127)

Items emphasized when choosing a hospital (training destination) *Number of valid responses: 2,583

1st

Atmosphere/human relations

25.0%

(645)

2nd

Work location/living environment

19.3%

(498)

3rd

Supervision system

18.0%

(466)

4th

Number of cases/medical content

11.7%

(303)

5th

Future career breadth

11.0%

(285)

6th

Salary/benefits

7.1%

(183)

7th

Workload

2.9%

(75)

8th

Hospital's achievements/brand

1.8%

(46)

Ranking of desired medical specialties (basic areas, first choice) *Compiled from 19 basic medical specialties under the specialist system *Number of valid responses: 2,582

1st

Internal Medicine

34.5%

(892)

2nd

Surgery

14.5%

(374)

3rd

Pediatrics

8.3%

(214)

4th

Obstetrics and Gynecology

5.7%

(147)

5th

Orthopedic Surgery

5.5%

(142)

6th

Emergency Medicine

4.4%

(113)

7th

Psychiatry

4.0%

(103)

8th

General Internal Medicine