Participants from Japan

Population (mio.): 125.7

GDP per capita (EUR): 42,406

Healthcare expenditure % of GDP: 11 %

Healthcare expenditure per capita (EUR): 4,458

Healthcare model and general information on healthcare system (financing, stakeholders, insurance): Japan has an universal healthcare coverage system. The country has the oldest population in the world, with almost 30% being over 65 today, and by 2060 the level is expected to approach 40%.

The marked aging in Japan is due to a combination of healthy lifestyle that extends the life expectancy and a low fertility rate. The development is reflected in the dependency burden, which is 0.5 in Japan today. This presents Japan with challenges in terms of providing the sustainable healthcare system, incl. elder care.

A client fee is usually charged for the use of a health care service. The use of the services may incur high costs, some of which you will usually need to pay. Most often, you can receive reimbursement for the treatment costs retrospectively from the health insurance institution in your country of residence, such as Kela in Finland.

Dr. Takashi Fukuda

Director of Center for Outcomes Research and Economic Evaluation for Health, National Institute of Public Health, Japan

Takashi Fukuda is Director of the Center for Outcomes Research and Economic Evaluation for Health (CORE2-Health; C2H) at the National Institute of Public Health, Japan. After he worked for the University of Tokyo as Associate Professor in Health Economics and Epidemiology Research, he moved to the National Institute of Public Health. As C2H was established in 2018, he was appointed as the first director of the centerHis major research areas are healthcare economics, healthcare administration, and pharmacoeconomics.

Dr. Takahiro Ohmori

Deputy Director of Global Health and International Affairs at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan

Takahiro Ohmori is Deputy Director of Global Health and International Affairs at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. He graduated from Okayama University Medical School and worked on the residency program in Okinawa Chubu Hospital. 

After working for rural areas as a doctor and clinic director, he obtained a Master of Public Health in the field of behavioural science, international health and mass population study from Tulane University School of Public Health in US.

Since then, he returned to Japan and has worked for the Ministry of Health particularly for G7 and G20.