Insight Japan
Last updated
Last updated
In 2025, the baby boomers and tankai generation, who have driven Japanese society, will become senior citizens at the age of 75. 33% of Japanese citizens will be in the elderly group in 2 years. Japan is on the verge of an unprecedented super-aging society.
"There is an absolute shortage of hospitals and nursing facilities to prepare for this problem. Also, due to population decline, there is a shortage of medical staff. There are too many waiting lists for inexpensive elderly care facilities operated by local governments. It is estimated that 30,000 people will die in isolation every year in the future. There was also a need for social system transformation.”
Professor Kouki Tsuruoka of the Japan University of Social Work's Welfare Management Research Institute said as above while he explained the background of home medical care coming to the forefront of the Japanese medical system ahead of 2025.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that it is leading the 'Medical Device Industry Vision 2024' and promoting high added value in the medical device industry, and is focusing on expanding the development of digital medical devices that combine sensors and AI as part of the plan.
The major fields of digital health in the Japanese market are diverse across the entire health care and treatment cycle (prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and nursing). This field includes wearable devices, software medical devices (SaMD), telehealth, and healthcare IT.
Recently, as the distribution of wearable devices and smartphones has expanded, the distribution of personalized medical diagnosis and treatment services through image diagnosis support using AI and smartphone apps is increasing.
