Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Health care in Japan - statistics & facts
With an average of 84 years, Japan ranks among the countries with the highest life expectancies worldwide. Additionally, the country has one of the lowest infant mortalities as well as maternal mortalities. Factors that contribute to a higher life expectancy are maintaining a healthy body weight, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and access to healthcare, among others. In Japan, the three most common causes of death are age-related illnesses such as malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, and cerebrovascular diseases.
People are free to choose to be treated by any private or public medical institution, which total approximately 180,000 facilities across the country. Hospitals are required by law to run as non-profit and must be both owned and operated by physicians. Health administration of prefectures and large municipalities are divided into several districts, and each district owns a public health center. Public health centers plan, supervise, and evaluate health programs in their respective areas.
Nationwide and affordable access to healthcare is one of the factors that have allowed Japanese people to have one of the highest life expectancies worldwide. This has helped the prevention of diseases through the promotion of regular comprehensive medical checks from an early age.
Japan’s healthcare system
A variety of factors determine the population’s health, such as general exposure to health risks, living habits, health education, as well as access to healthcare. Every Japanese citizen is eligible for medical treatment through universal healthcare with a coverage of nearly 100 percent, and medical costs are strictly regulated by the government. A minimum of 70 percent of healthcare costs are covered by health insurance provided by the government or by employers. The remaining 10 to 30 percent are typically paid by the patient, depending on the financial status of the individual.People are free to choose to be treated by any private or public medical institution, which total approximately 180,000 facilities across the country. Hospitals are required by law to run as non-profit and must be both owned and operated by physicians. Health administration of prefectures and large municipalities are divided into several districts, and each district owns a public health center. Public health centers plan, supervise, and evaluate health programs in their respective areas.
Prevention of diseases
Companies in Japan must provide periodical medical checks, such as tests for eyesight, hearing, hepatic function, and blood lipid level, at least once a year to their employees. Public health centers also offer free health examinations for people aged 35 years and older. Additionally, all educational institutions up to tertiary schools conduct annual general health checkups including dental health, appendicular health, and tuberculosis. Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Japan. In recent years, the most common sites for cancer screenings were the colon, cervix, lung, breast, and stomach.Nationwide and affordable access to healthcare is one of the factors that have allowed Japanese people to have one of the highest life expectancies worldwide. This has helped the prevention of diseases through the promotion of regular comprehensive medical checks from an early age.
