EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH DATA INSIGHTS
Editorial
Nov 13, 2025 3 3

Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions

Meirmanov Serik 1
1 College of Sustainability and Tourism, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan
Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 1(6), 2025, ehdi020, https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377
Publication date: Nov 13, 2025
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Japan's healthcare system recognized for its achievements in universal healthcare coverage, for one of the highest life expectancies, and for low infant mortality rate. These impressive results achieved after decades of thoughtful policy making process and financial investments into the equitable access. In addition to that Japan has a long history of strong public health traditions and sophisticated insurance model. On the other hand, despite these achievements, the healthcare system recently faces growing pressure which may impact its sustainability and fairness.  One of the challenges is rapid aging of population.  In combination with persistently low fertility, these challenges are reshaping the demand for healthcare and long-term care services. Moreover, financial pressure in increasing with health-related and social security expenditures consume a growing share of the national budget. A shrinking number of workforces, unequal healthcare provider distribution, and fragmentation across nearly 3,000 health private insurers create additional inefficiencies and threaten equitable access of the population to healthcare services, especially in the rural areas. In addition, the healthcare system is under strain from rising number of multimorbidity and increasing mental health issues among young population. Advance in technological progress creates opportunities but at the same time requires substantial adaptation.

KEYWORDS

Japan Healthcare Challenges Insurance

CITATION (Vancouver)

Serik M. Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2025;1(6):ehdi020. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377
APA
Serik, M. (2025). Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 1(6), ehdi020. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377
Harvard
Serik, M. (2025). Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 1(6), ehdi020. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377
AMA
Serik M. Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2025;1(6), ehdi020. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377
Chicago
Serik, Meirmanov. "Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions". Epidemiology and Health Data Insights 2025 1 no. 6 (2025): ehdi020. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377
MLA
Serik, Meirmanov "Current Healthcare System in Japan: Current Issues and Future Directions". Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, vol. 1, no. 6, 2025, ehdi020. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/17377

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