International promotion of Japanese aging-related health services and products: Perspective of an international agency.

Asia is at a critical juncture of health development. The population is aging and shrinking. At the same time, the economy is developing rapidly. These two factors, which necessitate a new paradigm of health development: departing from dependence on Official Development Assistance (ODA) and transitioning towards a model with more involvement of industries (private sector), academia, and health care providers, the so-called public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) is studying the potential for broader application of the new concept for collaboration between Asian countries and Japan. In this article, the authors attempt to introduce the complete picture of a new health ecosystem advocated by Japan. We first look at the impacts of population aging and shrinking, followed by introducing two new approaches; regional and country-specific, with the involvement of ERIA. Then, the outcomes of the projects and Japanese technology, services and products relevant to the older population are introduced. Finally, based on the various projects and products, we focus more closely on the new health development model, the PPP model. We start from the theory and move to examine a tool for implementation, which is the formulation of a dialogue forum named the MEX (Medical Excellence X, where X can be substituted by the acronym of any participating country) project. The experience of these projects and case studies will benefit all ASEAN member countries and beyond. ERIA finds that the facilitation works of the Institute catalyze the progress. ERIA will remain committed to helping the endeavors initiated by Japan for the benefit of all.

Approach of Medical Excellence JAPAN to create platforms of collaboration in Asia.

Medical Excellence JAPAN (MEJ) is a general incorporated association established in 2011 in Japan. It aims to serve as a central hub and a platform to promote international health business jointly with governments, medical communities, academic organizations, and healthcare industries. This article introduces the works of MEJ in the broader context of Japan Revitalization Strategy. The Act on Promotion of Healthcare Policy (2014 Act No. 48) established the Headquarters for Healthcare Policy, chaired by the Prime Minister and supported by dedicated secretariats in the Cabinet Office. The Headquarters aimed at policy coordination across ministries but learned hard lessons from COVID-19, such as delay of domestic vaccine production. This highlights our systematic weakness of the trajectory from R&D to public availability, and this is the field in which MEJ can play further roles. The value and feasibility of developing MEJ-like mechanisms in Asia with a rapidly growing healthcare sector is discussed.