Structural reforms are required to make Japan’s healthcare system sustainable Posted 09/10/2020

Japan’s healthcare system provides universal coverage and high-quality healthcare delivery. With relatively minor changes for nearly six decades, it has kept the country remarkably healthy. However, a recent study has highlighted that significant changes may be necessary to maintain long-term sustainability.
‘Health System Sustainability in Japan’ is a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit that examines the challenges and opportunities faced by Japan’s healthcare system and the sustainability of the system. Sustainable healthcare systems not only have appropriate resources to function effectively, but also can address challenges required to explore and implement innovative designs for health services. The research uses a scorecard to compare Japan's health system with those of the UK, US, South Korea, France and Germany across five domains: long-term strategic perspective; disease prevention and health infrastructure; existence of integrated healthcare models; accountability and patient-centredness; and research readiness. Overall, Japan ranked in the lower tier of the six countries. The research found that pressures of an ageing population, a lack of regulation of demand for medical services and an underdeveloped system for evaluating efficiency and effectiveness of health products and services could paralyse Japan’s healthcare system as the cost of treatments rises. Without changes to the current incentives, Japan will struggle to take advantage of medical innovation and maintain its ability to deliver high-quality, accessible care in the future. The key findings of the report are summarized below: Jesse Quigley Jones, editor of the report, said, ‘The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted vulnerabilities of the system with experts warning of the collapse of the emergency medicine system, and potential knock-on effects for the broader health system and even overall economy. Our research has highlighted some positive steps towards reform and an emerging long-term vision, but further political commitment is needed to make evidence-based decisions and ensure Japan's health system is sustainable for generations to come’.
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Japanese opportunity for biosimilars
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Japanese opportunity for biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Oct 9]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Reports/Japanese-opportunity-for-biosimilars
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit
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