Radu ȘERBAN
ABSTRACT :
The present article compiles some useful data regarding the health of the population in Japan, summarizing four pillars of the Japanese health system: financing, human resources, infrastructure and governance. The country with the highest life expectancy, Japan, owes this performance, in large part, to the high quality of medical care, first preventive and then reactive. All citizens and residents of the country are eligible to use the public health system, including foreigners who plan to stay in the country for more than three months. However, treatment is not completely free and the financial burden is unevenly distributed, in relation to several objective factors. Patients contribute a co-payment of between 10% and 30% for medical services, and annual costs are capped in order to prevent the financial difficulties of the citizens. Based on the principles of compulsory insurance and the patient’s freedom to choose their doctor, Japan’s health system provides universal coverage through two main programs (plans): Employees’ Health Insurance and National Health Insurance. The threats facing the Japanese health system today are related to the aging of the population and social disparities.