Medical Equipment

In order to improve the situation and for the increase in raw material prices triggered by the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as supply uncertainty and the sharp rise in exchange rate fluctuationsit is important to promote medical system reforms and technological innovations centred on digital health so that stable supply will not be hindered even by coronavirus. In addition, the EBC believes there is important to shift from “medical care to treat illness” to “healthcare to maintain health and prevent illness”, and to promote the utilisation of medical information and the efficiency of medical services. In digital healthcare, it is important to detect early abnormalities by monitoring health conditions, make accurate and definitive diagnoses, securely share diagnosis results, and realise timely and efficient medical services. We believe that introducing and instilling these services in society as a system will reduce the burden on patients. At the same time it will also reduce medical expenses, increase the healthy population and labour force, and eventually lead to social and economic growth.

Innovative European medical equipment, materials and services can help Japan to meet its healthcare challenges. To do this, Japan should align its regulations and processes with international standards, allow use of European approvals and data, and improve the predictability of the reimbursement system. Moreover, information on the Japanese medical care system should be provided internationally in multiple languages to encourage more overseas businesses to participate in the Japanese market.

In Japan, the introduction of PHR (Personal Health Record) has been promoted since FY2020, and online medical treatment for COVID-19 is also underway. Cloud integration and consolidation of medical institutions is required. It is hoped that the following measures will be continued: Efficient medical services will be provided by digitalisation of medical data; Cyber security implemented in Europe toward introduction of medical equipment using IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence); appropriate responses to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) etc.; Trial introduction and operation in Japan such as DiGA (Digital Health Applications) etc, and FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) measures that European companies can participate in.

The EBC Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Committee intends to continue working in cooperation with the Japanese Government, especially the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and other associated industrial organisations, and will present recommendations in order to help reform the Japanese medical system and industrial structure. The aim will be the deployment in Japan of not only excellent medical equipment but also advanced healthcare models and effective medical systems, where we believe Europe has much to offer.