The National Health Service Reform and Evaluation : The purpose of the white paper "Working for Patients"(<Special Issue 1>The Dialogue between Public Health and Medical Sociology)

Abstract

In this paper, we review the reform of the National Health Service and its evaluation; we also examine the purpose of the reform from the viewpoint of the "Patient First". According to the White Paper "Working for Patients" and some other papers, the status of the General Physicians and the Patients has been improved compared with the one before the reform. As a result of the NHS reform, the gap of the health has been widened among the socioeconomic groups and the aged of both sexes. In the future, this kind of reform and the activity will be widely accepted in Japan with the efforts of the specialists in this field. We will also be able to expect not a small contribution to a reform from the families of the patients, supported by the help of the municipalities, who spare no effort to make their situation better. In order to promote these mission programs for the people, we cannot ignore the most important three process: to set up a health personnel system, to set up medical facilities, and to set up an evaluation planning. The real purpose is to improve the health of many people, not just to promote the implementation program itself. We should make efforts to improve the level of the health section among the other sectors of the local government. Everyone should also be given a greater opportunity to take part in the process of planning based on the concept of the "Informed Choice" and the "Patient First".