RESUMO
The shortage of financial resources for medical services is an important social issue in Japan. To examine what obstetricians and gynecologists think about the rules of medical services based on the Japanese national health insurance system, questionnaires were sent in August 1999 to obstetricians and gynecologists in Kagoshima prefecture. Valid responses were obtained from 63% of questionnaire recipients, including 17 obstetricians and gynecologists of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kagoshima University, 25 working at public hospitals, and 56 working at private hospitals. These physicians thought that medical services should be performed according to the rules based on the health insurance system. However, physicians at Kagoshima University or at public hospitals knew little about the rules as they had not been adequately instructed by senior doctors. Physicians working at private hospitals also reported that they had not been taught the rules during their postgraduate training at university hospitals. All respondents thought that the rules of medical services based on the health insurance system must be included in the postgraduate education system.