The district health center in Japan. History, services, and future development

Abstract

The Jpanese public health system has many remarkable achievements to its credit. The impressive strides in tuberculosis control and the complete elimination of cholera are only 2 of those which can be mentioned. However, as Japan moves into its mature capitalist period, with infectious diseases under control, low crude and infant mortality rates (6.8 per 1,000 and 14.2 per 1,000, respectively, in 1969), and an aging population, the chronic, degenerative diseases and killers are becoming more prevalent. In addition, as is well known, environmental pollution is an extremely serious problem in Japan. Because of the rapid urbanization as well as industrialization in recent years, public health practice in the country is facing a new phase aiming at comprehensive health care for the community. Consequently, great emphasis of the Department's activity has been laid on teaching and research to meet the changing needs in public health pratice. Main research fields under study in the past several years are: comprehensive health service systems; community health planning; training, education and recruitment of public health personnel; history of public health practice; evaluation of health education; educational effects of community organization for health; social health insurance; medical care security; and medical social work. One of the major interests is in the integration of preventive and treatment services and the reorganization of district health centers into polyclinics serving defined populations, on the one hand and community health planning and health information centers on the other hand. (10 references.)