The HOYA Group carries out its managerial policy that discrepancy in medical services or care should not present among the workers including Japanese employees stationed abroad (ESA) over the local employees. However, it is true that Japan has its own history and scheme of healthcare for its people and occupational healthcare services, such as periodical general health examination for its workers. Medical care in Japan is famed as the best in the world, and therefore it would be preposterous if the healthcare and medical service for the ESA were to be reduced. In under developing area including some Asian regions, the hygienic condition and the level of medical care are far behind to those in Japan. And it goes without saying that a certain level of healthcare support is necessary to the Japanese people living and working in such areas today. In this sense, the author believes that this symposium presents an excellent opportunity to discuss on health management service practice in the global community with a focus on the healthcare for the Japanese nationals engaged in overseas duties.
In providing healthcare for people stationed abroad, it is desirable that any major health problems can be avoided during the period of their assignment, and a consistent and continuous healthcare is offered them from before the departure to the location of assignment till after the return to their home country from the viewpoint of life-long healthcare. To achieve such healthcare, it is meaningful to provide overseas medical examination and take adequate follow-up healthcare measures. Also, in providing emergency medical care or ambulance service, efficient medical support systems should be structured through the cooperation among medical support agents, affiliated companies in overseas locations, head office staffs in charge of personnel affairs, and occupational physicians.
In this paper, the author attempts to outline the overseas medical examination and other healthcare activities for the Japanese workers engaged in overseas duties from the viewpoint of an occupational physician. Beside that, as a health service recipient, the author would like to encourage the members of this society who may represent health management or occupational health establishments, in order to provide higher value added services to exercising overseas medical examination and followup healthcare measures for support of globally active Japanese enterprises.
