Medical education in Japan: A challenge to the healthcare system

Abstract

In response to a change in health and societal need, the system of medical education in Japan has undergone major reform within the last two decades. Although the general health status of Japanese citizens ranks amongst the highest in the world, a rapidly increasingly elderly population, a social insurance system in crisis and a decrease in the number of practicing physicians is severely affecting this enviable position. To compensate, the Government has reversed its previous decision to reduce the number of doctors. Concomitantly, public opinion is changing to that of support and sympathy for the practicing physician.

In order to produce a new breed of future doctors, Japanese medical education has undergone major reform: problem-based learning and clinical skills development has been instituted in most medical schools, more rigid assessment methods, ensuring competency and fitness to practice have been introduced, and there has been an increase in purposeful clinical attachments with a hands-on approach rather than a traditional observation model. A new postgraduate residency programme, introduced in 2004, hopes to improve general competency levels, while medical schools throughout the country are paying attention to modern medical education and faculty development.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yasuyuki Suzuki

PROFESSOR SUZUKI is the Director of the Medical Education Development Centre (MEDC) in the Gifu University School of Medicine. As a paediatrician, with an interest in inherited disorders of metabolism, his interest in medical education led him to implement PBL into the medical school. He holds an executive position in the Japanese Society for Medical Education (JSME) and endevours to develop worldwide collaboration in medical education.

Trevor Gibbs

PROFESSOR GIBBS is the Head of Family Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He holds an honorary appointment at the Medical Education Development Centre at Gifu University. Throughout his years as a General Practitioner and Medical Educationalist, he has helped facilitate the development of international collaboration in medical education.

Kazuhiko Fujisaki

PROFESSOR KAZUHIKO FUJISAKI is the Deputy Director of MEDC at Gifu and an executive officer of JSME. He is a family physician with an extensive background in behavioural sciences. He plays a major role in the development of communication skills and the use of simulated patients in the medical schools of Japan. He also has an interest in health promotion within the community.