The Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Cardiovascular Disease Control Promotion Project formulated policy recommendations titled, “Developing and Expanding Cardiovascular Disease Control Plans in Each Prefecture – Challenges and Good Examples for Cardiovascular Disease Control.”

For details, please view the PDF provided bottom.

■Background of these recommendations

In Japan, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) like stroke and heart disease are leading causes of death and the most common conditions that require long-term care. One characteristic of CVDs is that the number of patients increases with age, making them a major problem for Japan and other developed countries where populations are aging. Given this backdrop, to advance all varieties of measures for CVD control, the “Basic Act on Countermeasures for Stroke, Heart Disease and Other CVDs to Extend Healthy Life Expectancies” (or the “Basic Act on CVD Measures”) was enacted in December 2018 and came into effect in December 2019. Based on this law, the Japanese National Plan for Promotion of Measures Against Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Disease was approved by Cabinet Decision in October 2020. In accordance with the National Plan, each prefectural government formulated a Prefectural Plan for the Promotion of CVD Countermeasures and is now advancing efforts to promote CVD control. Furthermore, the National Plan was revised in April 2023, and prefectures must revise their CVD control plans in the near future.

In CVD control countermeasures, good examples are beginning to emerge from each prefecture, particularly those related to cultivating cooperation among local stakeholders. Many prefectural officials in charge of CVD countermeasures have voiced the strong desire for chances to refer to how other local governments are implementing their plans to learn about items like formulating CVD control promotion plans, securing budgets, and obtaining subsidies.

Meanwhile, when implementing CVD countermeasures, there are a number of factors that result in great variance in challenges and necessary measures among regions. For example, the peak size of the senior population differs in each region. Geographical and cultural differences among regions also mean that there is varying prevalence of diseases among regions. When formulating and implementing plans that are tailored to real-world conditions in each region, it will be essential for each region to refer to good examples from other regions to identify similarities and differences and effectively apply what they learn.

Given these circumstances surrounding CVD countermeasures, HGPI’s Cardiovascular Disease Control Promotion Project compiles good examples and issues from three perspectives on initiatives in each prefecture, namely: (1) formulating plans tailored to actual conditions in each prefecture and evaluating them; (2) building an integrated support system centered on “Model Projects for Integrated Centers for Stroke and Heart Disease Support;” and (3) promoting Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in the processes for formulating and implementing CVD countermeasures. It also crystallizes common points and discusses necessary future initiatives for each perspective.

Good examples and key points for future discussion identified during Phase 2 of the Cardiovascular Disease Promotion Project

1: Formulating plans tailored to actual conditions in each prefecture and plan evaluation

• Securing human resources, establishing management positions, and building systems for cross-departmental collaboration at prefectural governments
• Building systems for collaboration with external stakeholders
• Planning methodologies

2: Building an integrated support system centered on “Model Projects for Integrated Centers for Stroke and Heart Disease Support” (hereinafter “integrated support center projects”)

• Clarifying the functions of integrated support center projects
• Promoting collaboration among government, civil society, academia, and medicine
• Building systems for continuous operations
• Fostering mutual collaboration among major hospitals

3: Promoting Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in the processes for formulating and implementing CVD countermeasures

• Identifying people living with CVDs and other affected parties and encouraging their involvement
• Providing support and consideration to facilitate participation in discussion forums
• Securing diverse methods of involvement and opinion gathering