Current trends in Japanese health care: establishing a system for board-certificated GPs

Abstract

The Japanese healthcare system provides universal health coverage through both a fee-for-service system under governmental control and a free-access system.1 The free-access system allows private facilities to establish hospitals or clinics if they meet the requirements of the Medical Care Act, a Japanese law covering the healthcare system.1 Patients can seek treatment at whatever public or private medical facility they prefer, with no difference in cost.1 There is no strict gatekeeper system by primary care physicians1 so patients are not always required to have a regular primary care doctor.1 Under this system, Japan has maintained top-class global health indicators, including life expectancy at birth and infant mortality.1 However, the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of the government currently exceeds 200%, and is expected to continue rising.2 …