Project News

To learn about Japan's universal health coverage (UHC), JICA GLO+UHC Project invited H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, who is Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health (DPM & PHM), and National Health Security Office (NHSO) board members to the study visit to Japan on 14 - 17 November 2022.

The overall content of this invitation program involved Japan's health system and health insurance administration in central and local government level. Experiences and lesson learned from Japan's UHC could be contributed to tackle the challenges of Thailand's UHC such as local administrative involvement in system management and service quality improvement.

On the first day, the group went to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Tokyo to learn about Japan's medical insurance system, including fee schedule system, guidance and audit system, and health expenditure optimization plan. During that day, the group, together with DPM & PHM, moved to the Members' Office Building of the House of Councilors to hear the Storytelling introductory lecture by Hon. Prof. Keizo Takemi. His lecture covered the Japanese development experience on achievement, reforms, and future challenges of Japan's UHC.

On the second day, the lectures of MHLW were held at JICA Headquarters in Tokyo, which covered the topics of policy on health promotion and disease prevention, and public health centers. Then, the group headed for the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) to listen to a series of lectures on local government system and administration of healthcare, and challenges and outlook of the reforms of healthcare system.

On the third day, the lectures took place at JICA Yokohama Center in Kanagawa Prefecture. The lectures consisted of Kanagawa Prefecture's Health New Frontier Policy, national health insurance system and medical care system for the elderly, medical care expenditure regulation plan, long-term care insurance system and dementia policies, and the countermeasure for oral frailty in the prefecture.

On the last day, the group held the wrap-up session at JICA Headquarters in Tokyo to summarize the experience and lesson learned on the management of Japan's UHC to apply such learning to Thailand's UHC implementation. Lastly, the group moved to Matsuda Town Office, Kanagawa Prefecture, to attend the lecture about health promotion and disease prevention for the elderly in Matsuda Town.

Throughout the invitation program, the Thai participants actively learned and discussed technical and policy recommendations for a more efficient and sustainable health system in Thailand.

JICA GLO+UHC Project would like to express our deepest gratitude to all those who supported us.

The invitation program was reported in the following Thai national media.

• "อนุทิน" หารือประธาน JICA ดึงญี่ปุ่นลงทุนระบบราง - TOPNEWS (Thai) (external link)
• ‘อนุทิน' นำผู้บริหาร สธ. ศึกษาระบบหลักประกันสุขภาพญี่ปุ่น (thaipost.net) (Thai) (external link)
• ‘อนุทิน' นำทีมผู้บริหาร 'สธ.-สปสช.' ศึกษาแลกเปลี่ยนเรียนรู้ ระบบหลักประกันสุขภาพญี่ปุ่น เพิ่มศักยภาพ ‘ระบบบัตรทอง' ไทย | TheCoverage.info (Thai) (external link)