that face-to-face examination would be the general rule and specified the following
warnings.
1. Face-to-face examination is mandatory for initial examinations and acute-phase
diseases.
2. Telemedicine can be performed only in cases in which the patient’s condition is
stable (e.g., those with chronic illness).
3. Telemedicine can be performed only in cases in which performing direct, face-toface examination is difficult (e.g., on isolated islands and in remote areas).
In January 2001, the Cabinet Office established “the Strategic Headquarters for
the Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society” (abbreviated
as IT Strategic Headquarters) and proposed the “e-Japan Strategy,” which
established an IT environment. The foundation of this strategy was to facilitate
reliable information exchange, even in remote areas, through a network and allow
patients to receive high-quality medical and care services including response to
emergency situations at home. The “e-Japan Strategy II,” which was proposed in
July 2003, presented seven fields, including medicine, and led efforts to realize a
“lively, secure, inspired, and convenient” society.
Goals proposed by this strategy included patient-centered collaboration by medical facilities; health promotion through affordable, secure, and safe medical care;
and the provision of telemedical services to remote mountainous areas and isolated
islands using IT. The “i-Japan Strategy (Towards Digital Inclusion & Innovation)
2015” was proposed in July 2009. The field of medicine/health was presented as a
key pillar of this strategy. Specific goals, including the application of telemedicine
technology, maintenance/improvement of physicians’ techniques, and realization of
community-based medical collaboration, were established to address certain challenges, such as a shortage of community physicians, faced by those in the field of
medicine. Proposed plans to realize the implementation of this strategy included the
accumulation of data based on the scientific basis for telemedicine, the appropriate
use of medical fees, and—for telemedicine technologies that had verified safety/
efficacy data—striving for appropriate introduction and expansion of the range of
applications.
In February 2013, the “Office of Healthcare Policy” was established by the
Cabinet Secretariat, and the “Headquarters for Healthcare Policy” was established
in August of the same year. “On the promotion of ICT in the fields of health,
medicine, and caregiving” was proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and
Welfare in March 2014, and the “Health and Medical Strategy Promotion Act” was
enacted in May 2014. Accompanying the establishment of the Health and Medical
Strategy Promotion Act, the Headquarters for Healthcare Policy adopted a commanding role as headquarters as stipulated in the aforementioned law in June 2014.
In the same month, the “Law Pertaining to the Development of Related Laws to
Promote Comprehensive Guaranteed Medical Care and Caregiving in the Community” was enacted.
Innovation of Community-Based Integrated Care: The History and Current Status. . .
27
warnings.
1. Face-to-face examination is mandatory for initial examinations and acute-phase
diseases.
2. Telemedicine can be performed only in cases in which the patient’s condition is
stable (e.g., those with chronic illness).
3. Telemedicine can be performed only in cases in which performing direct, face-toface examination is difficult (e.g., on isolated islands and in remote areas).
In January 2001, the Cabinet Office established “the Strategic Headquarters for
the Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society” (abbreviated
as IT Strategic Headquarters) and proposed the “e-Japan Strategy,” which
established an IT environment. The foundation of this strategy was to facilitate
reliable information exchange, even in remote areas, through a network and allow
patients to receive high-quality medical and care services including response to
emergency situations at home. The “e-Japan Strategy II,” which was proposed in
July 2003, presented seven fields, including medicine, and led efforts to realize a
“lively, secure, inspired, and convenient” society.
Goals proposed by this strategy included patient-centered collaboration by medical facilities; health promotion through affordable, secure, and safe medical care;
and the provision of telemedical services to remote mountainous areas and isolated
islands using IT. The “i-Japan Strategy (Towards Digital Inclusion & Innovation)
2015” was proposed in July 2009. The field of medicine/health was presented as a
key pillar of this strategy. Specific goals, including the application of telemedicine
technology, maintenance/improvement of physicians’ techniques, and realization of
community-based medical collaboration, were established to address certain challenges, such as a shortage of community physicians, faced by those in the field of
medicine. Proposed plans to realize the implementation of this strategy included the
accumulation of data based on the scientific basis for telemedicine, the appropriate
use of medical fees, and—for telemedicine technologies that had verified safety/
efficacy data—striving for appropriate introduction and expansion of the range of
applications.
In February 2013, the “Office of Healthcare Policy” was established by the
Cabinet Secretariat, and the “Headquarters for Healthcare Policy” was established
in August of the same year. “On the promotion of ICT in the fields of health,
medicine, and caregiving” was proposed by the Ministry of Health, Labour and
Welfare in March 2014, and the “Health and Medical Strategy Promotion Act” was
enacted in May 2014. Accompanying the establishment of the Health and Medical
Strategy Promotion Act, the Headquarters for Healthcare Policy adopted a commanding role as headquarters as stipulated in the aforementioned law in June 2014.
In the same month, the “Law Pertaining to the Development of Related Laws to
Promote Comprehensive Guaranteed Medical Care and Caregiving in the Community” was enacted.
Innovation of Community-Based Integrated Care: The History and Current Status. . .
27