Currently, the hospital is being used as a part-time outpatient clinic, where emergency patients can receive triaging and stabilization before they are sent for further care to Miyako City Hospital, 40 miles away, which is limited in the scope of services it provides. The closing of the Yamada Hospital also caused a shifting of health staff who migrated to towns and cities with open facilities.

"With Yamada General Hospital functioning again, and offering health services that are critical to the well-being of the community, residents can take another step toward a return to their normal lives," said Dr Jacob A Gayle, vice president, Medtronic Foundation and Community Affairs. "We also hope that by strengthening a pillar of Yamada's healthcare infrastructure, we are helping create a path to long-term healthcare access and excellence."

The grant fulfills a $1 million commitment made by Medtronic, a medical technology company based in the US, in March 2011 that includes product donations and foundation grants supporting immediate relief efforts, as well as the rebuilding of healthcare infrastructure.