National sanatoria for Hansen's disease in Japan were special institutions that only treated in-patients.But a few sanatoria for Hansen's disease located in islands and rural districts should have other duty, namely service to community health because there was no other clinic office.
New patients with Hansen's disease are very small in number and inpatients become older and older. Then the new role should be seeked to National sanatoria for Hansen's diaease in Japan.
Amami-wakoen, National sanatoium for Hansen's disease in Amami island started skin clinic for out -patients with skin diseases in March, 1983 because there were few skin clinics in Amami district. The number of patients with skin diseases increases year by year (from 12.3 persons every day in 1983 to 36.4 in 1989).
We surveyed receipts of Naional health insurance for the purpose of studying the main diseases in Amami main island and the behavior of the patients with skin diseases.
The results of survey are followings; 1. The percentage of patients with skin diseases in Amami main island in August, 1987 was significantly superior. 2. The percentage of patients with mental diseases and pregnant woman in hospital and patients with gastrointestinal disorders and pregnant women in clinic were significantly large in May, 1987 in Amami main island. 3. There was a tendency that the patients with skin diseases visited to the clinic near in place. It was found that we treated only 5.1 percent persons of patients with skin diseases in August, 1987.