Introduction

  This study aimed to obtain information on the characteristics of foreign nationals living in Japan who had difficulties in accessing healthcare, factors that inhibit access to care, and effective ways to help them.

Methods

  We used explanatory sequential design in Mixed Methods. Existing healthcare-related cross-sectional data of 522 foreign nationals living in the Kanto area, Japan was quantitatively analyzed. Inhibition to access was defined those subjects who answered they’d had illness symptoms lasting 3 days or more in the past year, and who had not visited a hospital in Japan for treatment. After identifying factors and the population with clear tendency of refraining from visiting hospitals, a semi-structured interview was conducted targeting participants at “Free Medical Check-ups for Foreigners”. Eleven foreign participants, and 3 Japanese supporters, were selected purposively and interviewed.

Results

  Quantitative study showed that difficulties accessing healthcare services were more commonly seen among males, non-married, single and low-income households, and more common among foreign students, technical interns, and applicants for refugee status. In addition, a lack of health insurance coverage and an undocumented status were associated with the inability to access care. The qualitative study revealed that community and supporters’ networks were helpful in situations where access to care was difficult.

Conclusions

  Among foreigners living in Japan, socioeconomic reasons were associated with an inability to access healthcare. We believe that Japanese NPOs, social workers, etc., seem effective in helping foreign residents seek medical care. Particularly, those having a legally vulnerable status and who are illegible to utilize the Japanese public healthcare system and/or who are detained in immigration facilities, should seek the support of knowledgeable specialists.

  In addition to formal medical services, it may be effective to collaborate with expatriate communities and supporters’ networks and to strengthen their functions.

Introduction

  The need to develop human resources for global health is increasing. The objective of this study was to compare and identify the gaps between qualifications required for health-related international organizations, and actual qualifications of Japanese personnel who wish to work for these organizations.

Methods

  We compiled the required qualifications of 2,530 vacancy posts publicized between April 1 2019 to March 31 2020 by 15 health-related international organizations automatically acquired by Human Resources Registration and Job Search System developed by Human Resource Strategy Center for Global Health. Then compared them with the qualifications of 528 registrants of the system as of October 2020.

Results

  There were three major findings: Firstly, the need for Master’s degree got higher as the post grade got higher and 76.1％ of registrants held either Master’s degree, PhD, or Medical Degree (MD). However, 23.9％ of registrants did not have Master’s degrees. Secondly, job experience years of registrants by age groups were in accordance with general relations between grade and job experience years of those working for international organizations. However, only 56.8％ and 49.8％ respectively had job experiences overseas or in developing countries. Thirdly, 9.3％－51.4％of registrants opted for posts which were too low or too high for their qualifications.

Conclusions

  Our study findings suggested three characteristics or gaps. To bridge these gaps and strengthen capacities of Japanese global health personnel, selection and achievement of Master’s degree in anticipation of one’s prospective career development, achievement of overseas job experiences in one’s 20s and 30s, and application for posts which best matches one’s qualifications are needed.

Purpose

  The purpose of this study was to describe the difficulties and support needs of international residents in Japan during the 2018 Northern Osaka Earthquake, and to propose possible measures that would enable effective support for them based on the results.

Methods

  Semi-structured interviews were conducted among nine international residents who lived in the Kansai region at the time of the Northern Osaka Earthquake, and the six Japanese people who supported them. The participants were asked how they or the international residents reacted to the earthquake, and if they experienced any difficulties they experienced. They were also asked to suggest possible support measures. Interview data were transcribed, and codes were assigned to meaningful sets of sentences to derive categories and themes.

Results

  Themes from the interviews with the international residents included difficulties, disaster preparedness, and disaster information needs. Because of the gap in disaster preparedness between the international residents and the Japanese people, the international residents had difficulty understanding the situation and responding effectively, and they wanted the information provision system enhanced by information technology. Themes that emerged from the interviews with the Japanese supporters included support measures implemented, difficulties and barriers in supporting international residents, and desirable support measures. In addition to providing information and counseling, Japanese supporters coordinated services for international residents. Disaster countermeasure training and interagency agreement in a pre-disaster period were perceived to be helpful. Information transmission, communication between international residents and Japanese people, and cultural diversity were reported as challenges and barriers. Raising awareness for disaster preparedness and developing a disaster response system in advance were considered important to overcome these challenges.

Conclusion

  This study illustrated that, in an earthquake disaster, international residents experienced difficulties in understanding the situation and response, and that they had identified challenges experienced by international residents in Japan during a disaster and their support needs related to accessing disaster information. In order to meet these needs, respecting diversities in the disaster experience and culture when communicating and providing information will be necessary. Building a smooth cooperative relationship among relevant agencies and institutions was also found to be crucial. Recognizing international residents as contributors of disaster response may be a key to overcome these challenges.