As Japan eases coronavirus curbs following its first wave of cases, many small medical clinics are scrambling to stay afloat and the doctors who run them are calling for government support as patients keep away for fear of infection.

Such clinics are the backbone of a healthcare system that is short of doctors to care for one of the world’s fastest-ageing societies, yet the fallout of pandemic is threatening the survival of many.

With more than 16,500 infections and 825 deaths, the world’s third-largest economy has weathered the coronavirus pandemic better than many nations, without having to resort to hard lockdowns on travel and business.

Citizens have largely obeyed the government’s call for an 80% cut in social interactions, but that inevitably hit visits to GPs for regular check-ups.