Abstract
Objective: A symposium was held during the 24th conference of Japanese Society of Health Promotion and Education (JSHPE) in Gunma on July 5, 2015. Its title was “specific health checkups and counseling guidance: their challenges and improvement measures.” This article aimed at depicting the essence of discussion during the symposium.
Contents: Based on the ‘Act on Assurance of Medical Care for Elderly People’, its 1st medical care expenditure regulation plan (MCERP) aimed to decrease the proportion of metabolic syndrome patients by 25% and more. However, the decrease remained only 3.09% in 2012, and 3.47% in 2013. To achieve the 25% goal, challenges remain and more effective efforts are necessary for medical insurers during the period between 2013 and 2022, when the 2nd Healthy Japan 21 and the 2nd MCERP are implemented. In this symposium, the high risk approach was shown effective for this, but long-term impact was also expected by taking more population approaches.
Conclusion: JSHPE should provide more evidence to achieve the government goal and advocate key actions for policy makers and medical insurers based on successful health promotion experiences in Japan.
