On September 27, 2022, the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Dementia Policy Project presented urgent recommendations regarding the Basic Act for Dementia titled, “Enact the Basic Act for Dementia to Reshape Perceptions of Dementia.” A media briefing on the recommendations was held on the same day at the press conference room of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The briefing began with a look at past developments in HGPI’s Dementia Policy Project. This was followed by an detailed explanation of the three pillars of “Enact the Basic Act for Dementia to Reshape Perceptions of Dementia,” which are:

1. The Basic Act for Dementia should be centered on inclusion
2. The Basic Act for Dementia should encourage proactive participation from people living with dementia and their families
3. The Basic Act for Dementia should reflect the paradigm shift being driven by advances in R&D

Next year, when Japan hosts the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, we must demonstrate leadership to global society as a country with advanced population aging and guide discussions on dementia policy. HGPI will act quickly to host careful, non-partisan deliberations so an updated Basic Act for Dementia that is based on the opinions of multi-stakeholders and the latest discussions can be presented to and enacted by the Diet.