What Can America Learn From Japan?
Analyzing the reconstruction after World War II in Japan identified how cohesion and unity play a vital part in development and success. Japan made decisions that were politically and economically beneficial in moving the county's health system forward. Those decisions have played a vital role in the post war improvements. According to Zhang & Oyama, (2016) the success of Japan's health system is due to cost control and equal delivery of care. The post war improvements included implementing shelter, food, water, and basic needs for stability. The efforts continued with large distributions of antibiotics and other drugs that rapidly improved health. Japan has achieved universal coverage for its population. They are either covered by the government or employers at very low costs. Japan also focused on social and economic reforms which provided the citizens a chance at post war success and wealth. In research from Bezruchka et al. (2008) the relationship to health status and income distribution shows that policies and income equality controlled mortality and life expectancy. Because of the country's ability to make swift health and social improvements through reforms and policies it helped shape the culture and society of the county. One reason for the disparity between Japanese and American populations in health achievement is because of the price of insurance is very low compared to the U.S. The population in Japan is also very thin on average and this means the need for doctors and long waits at health facilities is very low. Another reason is every patient is treated equally in Japan. The improvements in environment and communities has played a significant role in the health of the adult population in Japan. To prevent long-term disparities of health there needs to be more research done on the elderly population in Japan (Suzuki, 2018). The U.S. insurance market is very competitive and therefore the price of insurance is high and not everyone can afford to be insured where as Japan has universal care for all. The healthcare system in Japan incorporates as the features that Americans highly value including free choice, employer option health insurance, and clinical health decision-making options (Bean, 2005). The thing that sets them apart is the low cost in Japan compared to the U.S. The US needs to improve the overall health of the population by reforming the healthcare system and lowering cost of care. References Bean, J. R. (2005). National Healthcare Spending in the U.S. and Japan: National Economic Policy and Implications for Neurosurgery. Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica, 45(1), 1824 https://doi.org/10.2176/nmc.45.18 Bezruchka, S., Namekata, T., & Sistrom, M. G. (2008). Interplay of politics and law to promote health: improving economic equality and health: the case of postwar Japan. American journal of public health, 98(4), 589594. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.116012 Suzuki, T. (2018). Health status of older adults living in the community in Japan: Recent changes and significance in the super-aged society. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 18(5) 667-677. doi:10.1111/ggi.13266 Zhang, X., & Oyama, T. (2016). Investigating the health care delivery syste