Healthcare in Japan

Healthcare System in Japan

Japan has a system of mandatory universal health coverage, although individuals may receive coverage relatively different. It can be divided into two broad categories: National Health Insurance and Employees’ Health Insurance. The government assumes 70 per cent of the costs with the remaining 30 per cent funded by the patients themselves.

People in Japan are able to visit the doctor several times a year without worrying about high medical expenses. They have a freedom of choice in terms of primary care physicians or specialist and generally have short waiting queues. The strong medical healthcare system has helped to keep Japanese alive longer than any other people on Earth while boasting on one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

Quality of Healthcare in Japan

The high cost of healthcare in Japan is largely due to the quality healthcare typically found in the country. The country has some of the best hospitals with highly qualified medical professionals.

Similar to other industries in Japan, they pay large importance to Research and Development of the most advanced technology. This dedication has paid off in the medical sector too making Japan a world leader in the use of high-tech examination devices such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) systems.