How is medicine in Japan?

The Japanese health care system is considered one of the best in the world, and ranks at the top of various rankings. In terms of the quality of medicine, it actively competes with South Korea and Taiwan. It is noteworthy that it is in these countries that the level of medicine is the highest in Asia, which is explained by the massive use of advanced technologies and innovative methods of treatment.

There is another explanation. In the minds of the Japanese, it is customary to do their work with high quality, responsibly, so medical errors are not allowed in the country and are severely punished.

Features of health insurance in Japan

Most residents of Japan pay for health insurance, medicine is free only for certain categories – the poor, as well as those suffering from tuberculosis and serious illnesses. But there are some advantages to such a healthcare system.

Firstly, the quality of doctors in the country is high, which is confirmed by the highest average age of the Japanese – about 80 years old, and this is obviously not only a seafood diet.

Secondly, the level of wages in the country is high, so most residents of Japan have enough money to pay for insurance. It is estimated that only 25th of the budget of a family of four goes to cover health insurance. The rest of the funds are spent on food, utilities, housing. In addition, for those who are over 70 years old, a preferential system of medical insurance has been established – they pay only a tenth of it, all other expenses are covered by the state.

Insurance in Japan covers all stages of a person’s life, carried out at work; at home; also takes into account the peculiarities of patronage care. But such procedures as abortion, childbirth, are not covered by health insurance.

What is the role of the state in Japanese medicine?

The lowest level of child mortality in the world testifies to the high level of medicine. No wonder – in Japan, medical services are provided even in the most remote prefectures and villages, there is no such thing that people in hard-to-reach parts of the country have no one to turn to with their problem. There are also special health centers funded jointly by local and state services.

The basic principles of treatment are regulated and verified by the state. It is also responsible for the functioning of health insurance; supply of medicines, financing of centers, etc. Despite the fact that the vast majority of clinics in Japan are private (about 80% of all institutions), the prices for services in them are the same, since they are set at the state level.

The main advantages of the Japanese healthcare system

Japanese medicine is considered a leader in the field of minimally invasive surgery, neurosurgery, and the treatment of certain oncological diseases. This is evidenced by the high rates of treatment of serious ailments, for example, stomach cancer, which reach 97%. That is, in 97 cases out of 100, stomach cancer in the early stages is cured, and this disease no longer bothers a person.

The main advantages of Japanese medicine, which elevated it to high places in the ratings in terms of treatment level, include:

• The high level of education of doctors, based on the strictest testing of knowledge at universities, a comprehensive theoretical and practical part.

• Modern equipment. Even in a small town there is always a clinic equipped with MRI, CT, ultrasound, new generation x-rays, and diagnostic laboratories.

• Availability. For foreigners, prices for treatment in Japan are lower than in Israel, Germany, Korea, which is explained by the low exchange rate of the yen – about 140 yen per dollar. And for the inhabitants of Japan themselves, with their level of prosperity, prices seem even more insignificant.

• Openness. An ordinary patient can always get an appointment with a professor, for this he does not need to pay additional funds, wait for a long queue.

That is why Japanese medicine is considered one of the best in the world. Here, the high quality of services is combined with an affordable price, and the state is closely monitoring that there is no corruption component in the activities of doctors. Yes, and there is no need for it – all doctors approach the treatment of patients responsibly, which is inherent in the national mentality of the Japanese. Doctors receive a decent salary and understand that they are an elite part of society.