1994 Volume 1 Pages 47-57
This paper deals with the future direction of the long-term nursing care for the aged [LTCA] in our country. First, LTCA's desirable position in the society and its tentative definition are proposed by applying merit-goods concept.
Second, the present conditions of LTCA in Japan are criticized. The content of the section is the following; economic nature of health care service, the comparison with the fundamental characteristics of Japan's medical care system, and the problems caused by immatured social system regarding LTCA.
Third, the paper rejects public service, household function, and the general market mechanism as the major apparatus for promoting LTCA in the future.
Finally, the author recommends the "quasi-market" idea, i.e. the combination of statutory social insurance schemes covering the LTCA needs and a diversity of supplying organizations. Also, the role of nonprofit enterprises in the above stated quasi-market is explained.
