Article 1. Health Center shall be established by Tokyo Metropolis, prefectures, on by cities determined according to the Cabinet Order for the purpose of improvement and advancement of public health in that district.

Article 2. Health Center shall give guidance concerning such matters as mentioned in the following items and undertake enterprises necessary for the purpose: 1. Matters concerning the diffusion and improvement of hygienic knowledge; 2. Matters concerning vital statistics; 3. Matters concerning the improvement of nutrition service including sanitation of food and drinks; 4. Matters concerning sanitation of houses, waterworks, sewerage, disposal of garbage and refuse, and other environments; 5. Matters concerning public health nursing; 6. Matters concerning improvement and advancement of medical social service; 7. Matters concerning maternal and child hygiene; 8. Matters concerning dental hygiene; 9. Matters concerning diagnostic laboratory services; 10. Matters concerning control of tuberculosis, venereal diseases, communicable diseases and other diseases; 11. Matters concerning improvement and advancement of other public health services in local districts.

Article 3. Chief of the local public body stipulated in Art.1 may entrust to health centers affairs concerning matters belonging to his official authority which are mentioned in items of the preceding Article.

Article 4. Health Center may treat, in case of necessity for the improvement and advancement of public health in its district, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, dental diseases and other diseases designated by the Welfare Minister.

Article 5. Health Center may practise, for the purpose of improvement and advancement of public health in its district, necessary diagnostic laboratory services. Health Center may permit those who are physicians, dentists, pharmaceutists and others to use the facilities concerning the abovementioned services.

Article 6. The Welfare Minister may, if deemed necessary for the improvement and advancement of public health, order matters of necessity concerning establishment and management of Health Center to a local public body under Article 1.

Article 7. A local public body under Article 1 may establish a branch for the convenience of managing affairs of a Health Center.

Article 8. Any institute, which is not established under this Law shall not use the name of Health Center (or the letter of Hokensho). This rule, however, shall not be applied when authorized by the Welfare Minister.

Article 9. Rents, charges or medicall fee concerning the avail of facilities and the services of Health Center shall not be collected except when provided for by Order or regulation.

Article 10. The National Treasury shall, to a local public body that disburses expense concerning a Health Center, subsidize not more than a half of its disbursement amount.