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A proposed medical system change in Japan inspired by Swedish primary health care : Important role of general practitioners and specialist nurses at primary health care centers

Sato, Rie LU ; Jakobsson, Ulf LU orcid and Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid (2024) In Journal of General and Family Medicine 25(6). p.295-304
Abstract

Japanese citizens of all socioeconomic statuses have benefited from the national insurance system by receiving high-quality healthcare. However, the Japanese healthcare service is facing a severe financial crisis because of the increasing aging society and social security expenses. Many consultations raise medical expenditure and doctors' work overload, which is about to be regulated, but is questionable how the goal can be achieved without delegating doctors' working tasks. Sweden has a similar health index to that of Japan, but the system is different and is anchored by general practitioners and specialist nurses assigned to primary health care centers. They collaborate to share the workload, responsibilities, and patients' continuous... (More)

Japanese citizens of all socioeconomic statuses have benefited from the national insurance system by receiving high-quality healthcare. However, the Japanese healthcare service is facing a severe financial crisis because of the increasing aging society and social security expenses. Many consultations raise medical expenditure and doctors' work overload, which is about to be regulated, but is questionable how the goal can be achieved without delegating doctors' working tasks. Sweden has a similar health index to that of Japan, but the system is different and is anchored by general practitioners and specialist nurses assigned to primary health care centers. They collaborate to share the workload, responsibilities, and patients' continuous care needs. As a result, the number of consultations is kept small, the length of stay in hospitals is shortened, and doctors' working hours are protected. A system change inspired by Swedish primary health care can be a potential solution for Japanese society.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of General and Family Medicine
volume
25
issue
6
pages
295 - 304
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:39554297
  • scopus:85203259315
ISSN
2189-7948
DOI
10.1002/jgf2.726
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of General and Family Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japan Primary Care Association.
id
13d4cedb-d98d-4526-82db-9b736a54e5cd
date added to LUP
2024-11-24 12:15:32
date last changed
2025-07-07 22:15:44
@article{13d4cedb-d98d-4526-82db-9b736a54e5cd,
  abstract     = {{<p>Japanese citizens of all socioeconomic statuses have benefited from the national insurance system by receiving high-quality healthcare. However, the Japanese healthcare service is facing a severe financial crisis because of the increasing aging society and social security expenses. Many consultations raise medical expenditure and doctors' work overload, which is about to be regulated, but is questionable how the goal can be achieved without delegating doctors' working tasks. Sweden has a similar health index to that of Japan, but the system is different and is anchored by general practitioners and specialist nurses assigned to primary health care centers. They collaborate to share the workload, responsibilities, and patients' continuous care needs. As a result, the number of consultations is kept small, the length of stay in hospitals is shortened, and doctors' working hours are protected. A system change inspired by Swedish primary health care can be a potential solution for Japanese society.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sato, Rie and Jakobsson, Ulf and Midlöv, Patrik}},
  issn         = {{2189-7948}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{295--304}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of General and Family Medicine}},
  title        = {{A proposed medical system change in Japan inspired by Swedish primary health care : Important role of general practitioners and specialist nurses at primary health care centers}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jgf2.726}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/jgf2.726}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}