Transformation of Japanese Digital Health with and after COVID-19

10^th International Conference on Public Health and Nursing

July 26-27, 2021 | Webinar

Masatsugu Tsuji

Kobe International University, Kobe 658-0032, Japan

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Int J Pub Health Safe

Abstract :

This paper aims to examine the following research questions: (i) how and in what purpose digital health is utilized, that is, how to utilize digital health in the better and wiser way for patients, particular coronavirus patients; and (ii) what policies promote digital health in the age of AI and digital transformation to solve problems such as an increase in medical expenditures related to chronic diseases, reduction of medical resources in less populated regions, overwork of medical staff, and so on. In the industry and business, the utilization of ICT such as cloud computing, big data, AI has been proceeding in a much wider and speedy way and creating new innovations aiming at Industry 4.0. Why medicine is lagged behind? When will Telemedicine 4.0 be realized? These are what this paper focuses on. This study examines whether online clinic is accepted by not only physicians but also patients, what are better and wiser policies to promote digital transformation in medicine. The amount of reimbursement itself is not sole reason. In particular, to answer the second RQ; (ii) what policies promote digital health, this paper proposes some policies which provide incentives to medical institutions to promote efficiency of medical care provision and hospital management, which were already implemented in the deregulation in telecommunications such as incentive regulations on telecommunications charges. This is required for not only a society with corona but also that of post corona.

Biography :

Masatsugu Tsuji is the president of Kobe International University, and Professor Emeritus of Osaka University. Received Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University, US. in 1976. His serves include visiting professors of Carnegie Mellon University, US and National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Board of Director, International Telecommunications Society; Editorial Board, Journal of International Society of Telemedicine and eHealth, and Smart Homecare Technology and TeleHealth; coordinator of e-Health Economics, ISfTeH. Current research focuses on economic evaluation of telemedicine and e-Health, and the applications of ICT for innovation in medicine. He has been consulting the Japanese Government and local governments for implementing telemedicine.