Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) is holding an expert meeting titled “Innovations Required to Achieve Precision Psychiatry“ on January 22, 2025.

The reality and challenges of mental disorders have a significant impact on our contemporary society, regardless of the country or region. In Japan, the number of patients with mental disorders reached approximately 4,193,000 in 2017, the highest among the five major diseases (cancer, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, diabetes and mental illness). Furthermore, in the field of psychiatry, there are many challenges regarding the diagnosis, appropriate treatment and post-diagnosis support for mental disorders. Particularly, issues such as the lack of objective evaluation indicators such as biomarkers and the fact that existing therapeutic medication are only partially effective due to patients’ individual differences.

In response to these challenges, a paradigm shift is warranted from the classical categorical diagnostic approach to a ‘dimensional approach’, in which patients and their symptoms are defined from different continuums from different perspectives rather than just assigning them to categories. At the same time, the need for ‘Precision Psychiatry’, which provides treatment and support tailored to individual genes, medical conditions, environment and backgrounds, has been recognized internationally. The development of new personalized psychiatric care for patients with mental disorders and related cognitive dysfunctions is already underway in many countries around the world, including Japan, and promoting and encouraging its development will require the collaboration of diverse stakeholders, that are not restricted to academia, but also companies, parties, their families, and supporters.

Thus, this meeting aims to elicit and develop discussions with diverse stakeholders, including patients and parties, on the ideal approach to the realization of Precision Psychiatry.

*Please note that the deadline for on-site registration is 23:59 on Monday, January 20th, 2025.

[Event Overview]

• Date & Time: Wednesday, January 22, 2025; 13:00 – 15:00 JST
• Format: In-Person and Online (Zoom Webinar)
• Venue: Grand Cube 3F, Otemachi Financial City, Global Business Hub Tokyo
  1-9-2, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
• Language: Japanese
• Participation Fee: Free
• Host: Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI)
• Sponsor: Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd., Google Japan G.K

[Program] (Titles omitted, no particular order)

Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Planetary Health Project has released a policy recommendations titled, “Achieving a Sustainable Society of Health and Longevity Through the Integration of Environment and Healthcare—Incorporating a Planetary Health Perspective into the 3rd Phase of The Healthcare Policy.”

The Healthcare Policy promoted by the Japanese government is a key cross-ministerial initiative aimed at extending the healthy life expectancy of its citizens while fostering the sustainable development of society and the economy through advancements in medical research and the creation of new industries. In its 3rd phase, it has become evident that global challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss are having direct and significant impacts on human health. Addressing these challenges requires policies that move beyond the conventional boundaries of healthcare, integrating the perspective of planetary health, which considers the interdependence of human health and the global environment.

During the Global Health Strategy Promotion Council held in November 2024, the importance of “Climate Change and Health” was emphasized as a cross-ministerial initiative. Key measures include the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s (MHLW) participation in the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), support by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) for the global deployment of environmental infrastructure and decarbonization technologies, and the Ministry of the Environment’s (MOE) Adaptwell climate change health risk assessment system.

This policy proposal presents specific recommendations aimed at addressing the health impacts of climate change, reducing environmental burdens, and achieving a sustainable society of health and longevity, with a focus on goals extending into the 2040s.

■Key Recommendations:

1. Addressing the Health Impacts of Climate Change

• Conduct climate vulnerability assessments and identify high-risk areas.
• Introduce early warning systems to mitigate health risks caused by extreme weather and air pollution.

2. Building a Sustainable Healthcare System

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting medical healthcare transformation (DX) and telemedicine.
• Advance the reduction of medical waste and the adoption of remanufacturing technologies.

3. Decarbonization and Promotion of Environmentally Conscious Products in Healthcare

• Improve energy efficiency in medical facilities and promote the use of renewable energy.
• Support research and development of treatments and pharmaceuticals with lower environmental impacts.

4. Demonstrating International Leadership

• Realize “Greener Universal Health Coverage (UHC)” by integrating environmental considerations into UHC initiatives.
• Contribute to international rule-making on the integrated challenges of health and the environment.

Incorporating the perspective of planetary health is key to achieving a sustainable society of health and longevity. The 3rd Phase of The Healthcare Policy must recognize the intricate connection between the global environment and human health, advancing initiatives that simultaneously promote environmental conservation and health improvement.

Through concrete policy proposals addressing climate change and health, HGPI aims to support Japan in demonstrating international leadership in the fields of healthcare and environmental sustainability.

For more details, please refer to the PDF linked below.

The English version of the report has been published. (December 18, 2024)

In 2022, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) launched the “Kidney Disease Control Promotion Project” and formed a public-private-academic-civic advisory board. HGPI held meetings advocating for the importance of CKD prevention and early intervention, the significance of multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration, the need to expand successful local government initiatives, and the promotion of kidney disease strategies based on patient and stakeholder perspectives.

CKD is a disease that also affects the working-age population. Given that there are individuals with CKD, those at high risk, and those undergoing dialysis within the working-age population, HGPI recognizes the need to more clearly understand the current challenges in kidney disease measures and to consider practical CKD control measures and their scope for the working-age population.

This time, HGPI has compiled proposals to strengthen CKD control withing the working-age population based on interviews with experts in industry, government, academia, and civil society and thorough investigation of previous discussions.

For more details, please see the PDF file at the end of this document.

<POINTS>

• Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, bold initiatives have been undertaken worldwide, including in Japan, to achieve “carbon neutrality by 2050.”
• Amid this trend, businesses and financial markets around the world are being called upon to address climate change and transform their business models and strategies accordingly.
• In the pharmaceutical industry, led by the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Associations of Japan (FPMAJ), companies are setting targets and implementing measures to achieve carbon neutrality.

Introduction

The Paris Agreement, adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015, marked a turning point as over 120 countries and regions worldwide set the ambitious goal of achieving “carbon neutrality by 2050.” In the midst of this trend, significant changes are underway in the business and financial markets, including the establishment of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). For companies, addressing climate change has evolved from being a component of “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)” to becoming critical information for securing investments and loans. Climate-related measures are now recognized as either “risks” or “opportunities” integral to conducting business activities.

Japan is no exception. In October 2020, the Japanese government declared its goal of becoming carbon neutral by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050. This was followed by the formulation of the “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050” (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), and the establishment of regulatory reforms and financial systems to support the effort, requiring companies to change their business models and strategies.

Especially as climate change directly and indirectly impacts human health, it is essential for the healthcare sector, which plays a role in maintaining and promoting health, to consider the overall decarbonization and environmental impact of corporate initiatives as part of its role and responsibility.

This column focuses on products and supply chains, which account for approximately 50% of GHG emissions within the healthcare system, and highlights efforts to achieve carbon neutrality in Japan’s pharmaceutical industry, including best practices.

Efforts Toward Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Japan’s Pharmaceutical Industry

The Japan Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Associations (JFPMA), a federation of 15 associations and 319 companies with the aim of promoting the sound development of the pharmaceutical industry, has established an Environment Committee to share information and study policies for environmental measures in the pharmaceutical industry as a whole with its member associations. As part of its initiatives, the committee has set up a Carbon Neutral Action Plan Working Group. Since 2010, this working group has participated in “The Commitment to a Low Carbon Society” formulated by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), working to set goals and implement measures to achieve carbon neutrality.

The Vision of the Pharmaceutical Industry Toward Carbon Neutrality by 2050 (Basic Policies and More)

*Source: Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), “Keidanren Carbon Neutrality Action Plan 2023 Follow-up Results, Industry-Specific Edition.” 2024. https://www.keidanren.or.jp/policy/2023/072_kobetsu13.pdf. (Accessed on October 16, 2024).

Examples of Initiatives in the Pharmaceutical Industry

1. Domestic Business Activities and 2030 Goals
Companies are analyzing and reporting the trends in CO2 emissions, the likelihood of achieving their goals, and their progress. One of the initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions in each company includes implementing energy-saving equipment and standards in offices and factories, introducing renewable energy, and improving manufacturing efficiency. In addition to direct emission reductions, some companies are progressing with carbon offset initiatives by utilizing environmental value certificates, such as the J-Credit Scheme, Non-Fossil Certificates, and Green Power Certificates, as an indirect method of emission reduction. For example, the J-Credit Scheme is a government-certified program where CO2 emission reductions, achieved through the introduction of energy-saving equipment or the use of renewable energy, or CO2 absorption through proper forest management, are certified as “credits.” Companies can purchase these credits to offset GHG emissions that are difficult to reduce internally. Furthermore, companies can clearly demonstrate their commitment to “environmentally friendly initiatives” to society.

AstraZeneca K.K.
Since April 2022, AstraZeneca has introduced and started operating solar power generation equipment at Maibara Plant in Shiga prefecture. Approximately 20% of the plant’s electricity consumption is supplied through self-generated power, contributing to the reduction of energy-origin CO2 emissions. Additionally, the remaining 80% of electricity is sourced from renewable energy that is not under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) system, effectively switching to the use of renewable electricity, which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2,800 tons annually. By utilizing the J-Credit system, the company has achieved 100% renewable energy use at its facilities in Japan.

Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd.
In 2021, the company constructed an additional formulation building to improve production efficiency, which is expected to increase carbon productivity by approximately 10%. From 2023, the company has been considering options for carbon offsets, including direct procurement of renewable energy, utilization of J-Credit Scheme, or purchasing Non-Fossil Certificates. With this, the company plans to reduce carbon emissions by 10t-CO2 through the purchase of J-Credits. These measures are anticipated to achieve a 10% improvement in carbon productivity at the facility level.

2. Enhancing Inter-Entity Collaboration
To reduce GHG emissions in society as a whole, it is necessary to go beyond reducing emissions from one’s own business activities, but also to work together with various stakeholders, including consumers, business customers, local residents, governments, municipalities, and educational institutions. In the pharmaceutical industry, efforts such as developing low-carbon products and implementing efficient pharmaceutical transportation methods like joint deliveries contribute to reducing GHG emissions throughout the product lifecycle. Additionally, by introducing fuel-efficient vehicles for company fleets and promoting the use of public transportation in urban areas, companies not only commit to reducing their own CO2 emissions but also work to raise employees’ awareness and knowledge of climate change issues through initiatives and education.

3. Promoting International Contribution
To address the global challenge of climate change, it is essential to work on reducing emissions with an awareness of the globally connected value chain by leveraging Japan’s advanced technologies, products, and services. Some pharmaceutical companies, such as Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, and Astellas Pharma Inc., have adopted Science Based Targets (SBT), which are GHG emission reduction targets based on scientific evidence and consistent with the standards required by the Paris Agreement. Certification of SBTs as an international standard requires companies to make a commitment to GHG emission reductions in unison with the rest of the world.

4. Development of Innovative Technologies for Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050
Industries across various sectors are not only advancing traditional initiatives but also embarking on the creation of entirely new innovations to accelerate CO2 reduction efforts. In the pharmaceutical industry, for example, in 2005 the ACS Green Chemistry Institute in the United States formed the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundtable to promote the integration of green chemistry (environmentally and human-friendly chemistry) and engineering in the sector. The Roundtable includes companies such as AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk. These organizations work on designing chemical synthesis processes that generate minimal waste and developing safer chemical substances. Additionally, the pharmaceutical industry is making strides in improving production processes by shifting from traditional batch production (individual production) to continuous production (producing multiple types within a single manufacturing process). This change not only enhances productivity but also contributes to CO2 reduction during transportation and logistics stages. Moreover, efforts such as the development of long-acting formulations are helping reduce the burden on the human body while supporting sustainability goals.

Conclusion

The examples above highlight efforts to achieve carbon neutrality in the pharmaceutical industry. The specific measures and progress of each company vary depending on on the size of the company and the type of industry. While it is clear that reforms in business and financial markets hold the key to advancing companies’ efforts toward carbon neutrality, the healthcare sector, in particular, must recognize its role as an integral part of the health and medical system. This awareness and sense of responsibility are essential to fulfilling its duties and obligations. It is hoped that more companies will embrace this sense of responsibility and actively engage in vigorous efforts to contribute to these goals.

References
1. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 2050年カーボンニュートラルに伴うグリーン成長戦略 [Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050]. https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/energy_environment/global_warming/ggs/index.html. (Accessed October 15, 2024)
2. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 企業の環境活動を金融を通じてうながす新たな取組み「TCFD」とは？ [What is TCFD? A New Initiative Encouraging Corporate Environmental Activities Through Finance.]. https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/about/special/johoteikyo/tcfd.html. (Accessed October 15, 2024)
3. Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Keidanren’s Commitment to a Low Carbon Society (Phase II) [2030年に向けた経団連低炭素社会実行計画（フェーズⅡ）]. https://www.keidanren.or.jp/policy/2015/031.html. (Accessed October 15, 2024)
4. Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Keidanren Carbon Neutrality Action Plan 2023 Follow-up Results, Industry-Specific Edition [経団連カーボンニュートラル行動計画 2023年度フォローアップ結果 個別業種編]. 2024. https://www.keidanren.or.jp/policy/2023/072_kobetsu13.pdf. (Accessed October 15, 2024)

Authors
Kozue Matsumoto (Program Specialist, Health and Global Policy Institute)
Akira Shimabukuro (Adjunct Fellow, Health and Global Policy Institute)
Eri Cahill (Program Specialist, Health and Global Policy Institute)
Joji Sugawara (Vice President, Health and Global Policy Institute)

Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Planetary Health Project has released a policy proposal titled, “Integrating Climate and Health for a Sustainable Society: Incorporating a Planetary Health Perspective into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).”

The establishment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement has a significant impact on Japan’s energy and growth strategies, with greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction as its goal. In accordance with the agreement, countries are required to submit updated NDCs with numerical targets for post-2035 by 2025. To meet these targets, Japan has begun preparations for this revision.

In recent years, more countries have been incorporating health considerations into their NDCs. By 2022, 91% of NDCs (175 out of 193 countries) included health considerations. Furthermore, 11% of NDCs from countries in Asia and the G7 (21 countries in total) include sector-specific GHG reduction and adaptation measures aimed at protecting health. Ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the World Health Organization (WHO) released the “COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health” and “Quality Criteria for Integrating Health into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).” These guidelines emphasize the need to prioritize health in climate policies, aiming to mitigate the adverse health impacts of climate change and achieve a sustainable future. However, Japan’s NDCs still lack references to health.

Given the severe impacts of climate change on public health, countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have prioritized long-term climate goals within their Long-term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) to maximize public health and well-being. Similarly, Japan must develop national strategies that place greater emphasis on the health of its citizens.

In response, HGPI presents the following five recommendations to ensure health perspectives are adequately reflected in Japan’s NDCs for 2025:

Request 1: Include the extensive health impacts of climate change as a rationale for climate action
Request 2: Include mitigation measures addressing the health impacts of climate change
Request 3: Include measures to promote co-benefits by advancing mitigation and adaptation in tandem
Request 4: Incorporate measures to promote mitigation within the healthcare sector
Request 5: Address the establishment of climate-resilient healthcare systems as an adaptation strategy

For more details, please refer to the PDF document linked at the bottom of this page.

Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) launched the Intractable & Rare Diseases Project in FY2024 and hosted a symposium titled “Future Measures for Intractable Diseases from the Perspectives of Patients and Citizens” to mark Intractable Disease Day on May 23, 2024. There, we held multi-stakeholder discussions on the future of measures for intractable diseases. A report on the symposium can be found here.

Among the many issues in health policy, intractable disease is one of the most important. While intractable diseases are often discussed alongside rare diseases, they are characterized by the fact that for many intractable diseases, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be identified and clear treatment methods have yet to be established. Certain aspects of these conditions also place particularly heavy physical and psychological burdens on patients, such as the need to undergo long-term treatment. Japan currently designates 341 conditions as “intractable diseases,” and they are estimated to affect over 1 million people.

The enactment of the Act on Medical Care for Patients with Intractable Diseases in 2014 set a direction that includes promoting healthcare and improving the social environment. However, a number of lingering challenges related to intractable disease measures have been pointed out. At our symposium to mark Intractable Disease Day on May 23, 2024, we examined a number of items like the role of designated intractable diseases, disseminating information to society, and the establishment of a system to promote early diagnosis, and emphasized the importance of eliminating diagnosis lag and to have participation from people with lived experience with intractable diseases and citizens in the policy-making process. There were also high expectations expressed for discussions to expand beyond treatment and encompass daily living for people living with intractable diseases and their families.

For the 130th HGPI Seminar, we will host Ms. Nana Ando, who serves as a journalist on the medical desk at the Editorial Bureau of the Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters. From the perspective of a medical journalist and as a family member of someone living with an intractable disease, Ms. Ando will discuss current circumstances surrounding intractable diseases, the role of the media as viewed through the lens of her past coverage, and what is needed in terms of future intractable disease policy.

[Event Overview]

• Speaker: Ms. Nana Ando (Journalist, Medical Desk, Editorial Bureau, Tokyo Headquarters, The Yomiuri Shimbun)
• Date & Time: Tuesday, January 28, 2025; 15:00-16:30 JST
• Format: Online (Zoom webinar)
• Language: Japanese
• Participation Fee: Free
• Capacity: 500 participants

■Profile:

Ms. Nana Ando (Journalist, Medical Desk, Editorial Bureau, Tokyo Headquarters, The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Ms. Nana Ando is a graduate of the Chuo University Faculty of Law. She joined the Tokyo Headquarters of the Yomiuri Shimbun in 2010. After serving in posts at the Nagano Office and in the Economics Department, she has been covering healthcare as a journalist on the medical desk since 2017. Her main areas of coverage currently include pediatrics and reproductive medicine.
Ms. Ando’s younger sister lives with a designated intractable disease called Rett syndrome, and she became a medical journalist out of her desire to broadly disseminate reliable information to people living with intractable diseases and their families. In that role, she continues to report on research on new methods of diagnosing and treating intractable diseases, and on issues in the daily living environment for affected parties.