The paper titled “Rethinking Japan’s Health System Sustainability Under the Planetary Health Framework” has been published in the international journal, Health Systems & Reform.

This study is based on the insight from the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Planetary Health Project. The co-authors from the HGPI include Adjunct Fellow Dr. Akira Shimabukuro, Program Specialist Mr. Kenta Minamitani, and Vice President Mr. Joji Sugawara.

Points:

1. Under the framework of Planetary Health, anthropogenic activities driven by rapid population growth and increased per capita consumption have significantly transformed the Earth’s environment, potentially impacting human health.
2. Planetary Health Framework is a multidisciplinary field that analyzes the impact of human disruptions to natural systems on human health and all life on Earth. Climate change has already been reported to affect human health worldwide negatively.
3. Globally, there is a growing movement towards building sustainable health systems under the Planetary Health Framework, such as the World Health Organization (WHO)’s lead initiative Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) with organizations like the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) being established. Climate change and health have become major topics of international discussion.
4. In contrast, the Japanese government has shown reluctance to address climate change and health policy, and there is a lack of a Planetary Health perspective. Efforts to address climate change’s impact on health are limited, and cross-sectoral collaboration is insufficient.
5. To ensure the sustainability of Japan’s health system, several significant changes are needed, including incorporating the principles of Planetary Health into the healthcare system, promoting climate-conscious health services, and incentivizing preventive services. Strong leadership and international cooperation are crucial in addressing these challenges.

The paper can be found here.