On January 15, 2024, the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Women’s Health Promotion Project held an advisory board meeting for the promotion of menopausal women’s wealth as a social issue to be considered by industry, government, academia, and the private sector. A policy proposal based on the meeting discussions will be released at a later date.

Since 2005, Health and Global Policy Institute has been focusing on sexual health and reproductive health issues though actionssuch as policy recommendations regarding the promotion of working women’s health and declining birthrates, developing health education programs for university students and companies, and the establishment of a midwife consultation platform for young people.

Recent years various initiatives related to women’s health have been launched and comprehensive policy promotion can be expected; however, there is still insufficient social understanding and policies on health issues of middle-aged and older women, especially menopausal symptoms. The “Basic Policy on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women” announced in June 2023 includes a plan to increase the ratio of female executives in companies listed in the Prime market to 30% or more. The promotion of women’s participation in the workforce has often neglected women’s health, despite the fact that these two issues are inextricably linked. Therefore, addressing women’s health in their late 40s to early 50s, precisely the age group of potential executives and coincidentallyduring menopause, is essential. Further enhancement of societal awareness and support measures is necessary.

At this Advisory Board meeting, opinion leaders from industry, government, academia, and the private sector in the field gathered to discuss issues and solutions in three areas (the healthcare delivery system, medical human resources, and occupational health) based on HGPI’s prior research, company-specific initiatives, and interviews with working female professionals.

[Event Overview]
Date & time: Monday, January 15, 2024; from 14:00 to 16:00 JST
Format: Hybrid (Zoom conferencing system and in-person participation at the venue)

Advisory board members (title omitted; in Japanese syllabary order)

Mariko Ogawa (Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ichikawa General Hospital Tokyo Dental College)
Megumi Kawashima (CEO / Occupational health physician, Keep Health, Inc.)
Kazue Kawamoto (Health Support Office, Human Resources Development Center, Lion Corporation)
Shigeyo Sasaki (Business Incubation Office, Strategy Management Department, Business Development Center, Lion Corporation)
Nobuharu Shirakoma (Senior Manager, Wellness Promotion Department, Japan Airlines Co, Ltd.)
Masakazu Terauchi (Professor, Chair of the Department of Women’s Health, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU))
Mayumi Nitta (Professor, Maternal Nursing/ Midwifery, Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing)
Yoshie Miwa (Chairman, Women’s Healthcare Awarenes & Menopause Network Society)
Akihiko Wakatsuki (Former President, The Japan Society for Menopause and Women’s Health, Senior Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aichi Medical University)

Observer

Mitsuha Aoyagi (Chief, Economic and Social Policy Office, List of Officials of Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Saki Muro (Deputy Director, Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Sponsors (in Japanese syllabary order)

Astellas Pharma Inc.
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Global Health Innovation Policy Program (GHIPP)
Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd.