The Future of Japan's Health System — Sustaining Good Health with Equity at Low Cost

Abstract

Four years ago, Japan celebrated 50 years of achievement of good health at low cost and increasing equity for its population.¹ In 1961, at the beginning of a period of rapid economic development, while the country was still relatively poor (with a gross domestic product [GDP] half the size of Britain's), Japan reached full health insurance coverage of its population. In the next half-century, it continued to develop its health system and improve equity, even applying this principle of universal health coverage in its global health diplomacy.¹ Now, however, Japan faces serious fiscal pressure due to a sluggish economy and the rapid aging and low birth rate of its population — but it is striving to sustain its health system in the face of these challenges.