[Event Report] The 2nd Roundtable Discussion on “Public Participation for Better Healthcare Reform” (February 17, 2021)
date : 3/12/2021
Tags: Future of the Health Care System, Innovation and Sustainability
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The Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) held a roundtable discussion on February 17, 2021 on how to promote public participation in healthcare policy formation and strengthen the sustainability of Japan’s healthcare system.
Since the achievement of universal health coverage in 1961, Japan’s healthcare system has supported the growth of the one of the healthiest and longest living populations in the world. However, the system is now facing a number of issues, including an increase in the number of elderly people it serves (who tend to require relatively higher medical costs), a decline in the size of the working population that supports the system, and a rise in healthcare costs due to greater use of advanced medical technology.
Healthcare reform affects all people, and in order to promote these reforms, it is important that healthcare policy reflects general public interest. Also, in recent years, opportunities for members of the public to participate in the policy creation and implementation process have been increasing in Japan, such as the Council on Public Relations for Social Security for All Generations aim of providing “choices” for each citizen. Furthermore, public awareness of issues in healthcare has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the second of two roundtable discussions, based on the discussions in the first session, experts from various sectors shared their thoughts on how stakeholders could encourage public participation and promote national discussion on healthcare policy.
This roundtable series was held with the aim of producing policy recommendations on public participation in the healthcare system policymaking process, which shall be released at a later date.
■Overview
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Venue: Zoom Webinar
Organizer: Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI)
Participants: Experts from various sectors
■Program
Opening Remarks
- Matt McEnany (Senior Manager, HGPI)
Roundtable Discussion
Roundtable Speakers (alphabetical order by last name):
- Kyoko Ama (Representative, Iryou to Kosodate Kurashi to Inochi)
- Yoshinori Hiroi (Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University)
- Mamoru Ichikawa (Medical Journalist / READYFOR Co., Ltd. / Visiting Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Hiroshima University)
- Satoshi Imamura (Vice-President, Japan Medical Association)
- Teruyuki Katori (Professor, Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Human Sciences, Sophia University)
- Toshiyuki Kanai (Professor, Graduate School of Law and Politics, University of Tokyo)
- Tessui Nakanishi (Janssen Pharma Co., Ltd. Policy Intelligence Department)
- Masahiro Sano (Executive Managing Director, National Federation of Health Insurance Societies (Kenporen))
- Yasuhiro Sensho (CEO, SENSHO-GUMI Co., Ltd.)
- Kenichi Oi (Secretary General / Program Director, Approved Specified Nonprofit Corporation Cancer Support Community)
Moderator
- Joji Sugawara (Senior Associate, HGPI)
Closing Remarks
- Kiyoshi Kurokawa (Chairman, HGPI)
■Related events held as part of the “Rebalancing Healthcare Systems: Innovation and Sustainability” project (chronological order)
October 16, 2019 First Meeting of the “Rebalancing Healthcare Systems: Innovation and Sustainability” Taskforce: Measures to Increase Spending Efficiency
December 12, 2019 Third Meeting of the “Rebalancing Healthcare Systems: Innovation and Sustainability” Taskforce: The Further Development of Push and Pull Incentives for Innovation
February 8, 2021 The 1st Roundtable Discussion on “Public Participation for Better Healthcare Reform”
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