The Constitution of Japan, created in 1946 and implemented in 1947, laid the foundation for Japan’s parliamentary system of government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Power is separate and checks and balances exist between the three branches. The legislative branch is comprised of the country’s Continue reading...
Health Care Policy Making Process
Although a significant part of Japanese health policy is dictated by revisions made to the fee schedule, bills passed through the legislative process form the structural base of policy, which includes government budget. The Japanese fiscal year starts in April and ends in March. The legislative process follows this timeline with budget bills prioritized to meet the start of the next fiscal year every April. Continue reading...
Health Policy Players
Health policy in Japan, similar to other advanced countries, is a high-stakes arena involving a variety of actors each with their own interests in the health policy process. The following is an overview of the main health policy players in Japan. The central government supervises and regulates health care through control of the health insurance system. Specifically, the central government oversees Continue reading...
