2024 Volume 73 Issue 2 Pages 126-135
This study outlines the requirements from prefectures and municipalities in developing the infrastructure for welfare services for persons with disabilities based on the basic guidelines of the Seventh Welfare Plan for Persons with Disabilities. The basic guidelines have been rapidly expanding in recent years, as a coordination of services across domains and an integration of service delivery systems are required to realize a community-based inclusive society, and it has become clear that a policy harmonization among health and other welfare fields is essential. Meanwhile, data-based health management initiatives are underway in Japan to improve data collection in the health, medical, and long-term care fields and use these data in service provision. In the welfare of persons with disabilities, the environment is being improved to use the National Database of Welfare Services for Persons with Disabilities of Japan that includes data indicating disability support categories and the claims for welfare services for persons with disabilities. Moreover, with a growing demand for Evidence-based Policy Making (EBPM), the basic guidelines also indicate that in addition to the expected volume of various services, output indicators should be set for goals and activities to confirm the status of measures. Prefectures and municipalities are required to implement the PDCA cycle by evaluating performance during the planning year, which is once every three years and taking countermeasures when necessary. Under these circumstances, it is predicted that there will be disparities in the efforts of prefectures and municipalities, which vary in size and local resources. Therefore, it is expected to enhance wide-area coordination and support for municipalities at the level of prefectures and disability health and welfare regions and to reflect the diverse needs of those who need services more precisely in developing infrastructure for disability welfare services according to the actual regional conditions.
