Guy Harris Chair Abby Pratt Vice Chair

2007 COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION
The subcommittee  acts as a forum for companies interested in participating in the Japanese healthcare service sector. Given that current Japanese regulatory practice means that many potential service markets are closed, much of the subcommittees work focuses on influencing the policy environment.

We act to:
1. Bring together companies with an interest in expanding the healthcare services industry in Japan.
2. Promote greater value in the Japanese medical system via the increased productivity and efficiencies offered by member companies and aim to bring market forces to bear on solutions to emerging healthcare reform
3. Facilitate the availability of choice to users of the Japanese medical system

2007 COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES
•    Promote greater value in the Japanese medical system via the increased productivity and efficiencies offered by member companies and aim to bring market forces to bear on solutions to emerging healthcare reform
•    Bring together companies with an interest in expanding the healthcare services industry in Japan
•    highlight the range of international best practice models to which Japanese policy makers may refer
•    Expand the research and education functions of the subcommittee


2007 ACHIEVEMENTS
Advocacy
•    Public Comment: 2007-03-02ACCJ Healthcare Services Subcommittee and ICT Committee comments to MHLW on Draft Grand Design for the use of IT in the field of Medicine, Health, Healthcare and Welfare (Japanese)      
•    Advised the US Embassy on reinstating Healthcare Services as an agenda item for the 2007-2008 US-Japan Bilateral Investment Initiative
•    Advised HHS Acting Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan on healthcare services market in Japan on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11


Speaker Programs & Networking

(1)
AVIAN FLU: BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND WORKER HEALTH
John Pournoor, Ph.D., Leader of 3M Avian Flu Public Health Solutions
Program
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, noon to 2:00 p.m.
VENUE: City Club of Tokyo
ATTENDANCE:  58

(2)
JOHNS HOPKINS BRINGS A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTHCARE TO JAPAN
Don Martin, M.D., Assistant Professor, Divisions of General Internal
Medicine and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University,
and Clinical Director, Johns Hopkins International
DATE: Monday, March 5, noon to 2 p.m.
VENUE: The Westin Tokyo, Sakura Room
JOINTLY SPONSORED WITH: Living in Japan Committee
ATTENDANCE:  105

(3)
HEALTHCARE REFORM IN JAPAN: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Kiyoshi Kurokawa, MD, Professor, National Graduate Research Institute for
Policy Science & Director, Health Policy Institute, Tokyo
DATE: Monday, July 30, noon to 2:00 p.m.
VENUE: Roppongi Hills Club
COST (meal included): Members: 6,000 yen, guests: 7,000 yen
JOINTLY SPONSORED WITH: Healthcare Committee, Dietary Supplements Subcommittee,  Medical Devices and Diagnostics Subcommittee, Pharmaceuticals Subcommittee, Government Relations Committee
ATTENDANCE:  107

(4)
RECENT MOVEMENTS IN HEALTHCARE REFORMS IN JAPAN, 2007
Dr. Atsuhiro  Yamada, Senior Researcher, The Japan Research Institute
DATE:  Monday, September 10, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Working Meeting)

(5)
Yumiko Nishimura, President, eConservo
DATE: Monday, October 15, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Working Meeting)


Additional Comments:
In early November 2007, a court ruling declared the MHLW’s prohibition of mixed reimbursement (“kongo shinryo”) to be illegal. We suspect that this decision may open the MHLW’s ban on for-profit hospitals to similar legal challenge. Against the broader political and econoomic background, we believe 2008 may be a particularly interesting year for those wishing to open Japan’s healthcare services market.