The times given in the conference program correspond to Japan Standard Time (JST).
Equity in health and the role of hospitals: Perspectives from Japan
Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University
Takeo Nakayama is a Professor in the Department of Health Informatics, School of Public Health, Kyoto University (KUSPH). He obtained his MD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in 1987. Dr Nakayama began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the TMDU Medical Research Institute from 1989 to 1999. He further advanced his expertise as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the UCLA School of Public Health from 1998 to 1999.
He then led the Division of Epidemiology and Cancer Information as Section Head at the National Cancer Center Research Institute between 1999 and 2000. From 2000 to 2006, he was an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Informatics at KUSPH, before assuming his current role in 2006. Between 2016 and 2019, Dr Nakayama served as the Dean of KUSPH and the Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine at Kyoto University.
NAKAYAMA, Takeo
Deeply rooted in social justice, health equity means eliminating unnecessary disparities among various populations defined by social, economic, demographic, and geographic factors. In Japan, known for its universal health coverage system, achieving health equity remains a key challenge for policy makers and health care providers.
This lecture will discuss the important role hospitals play in promoting health equity in Japan. As primary health care providers, hospitals are essential to ensuring equitable access to health care services and improving health outcomes. However, despite Japan's comprehensive healthcare system, disparities in health status and access to healthcare remain.
We analyze these disparities and their origins, and consider how hospitals can address them. We will also discuss the unique challenges facing Japanese hospitals, such as an aging population, and their impact on health equity.
Universal Health Coverage: As an active partner of the World Health Organization (WHO), Japan emphasizes its commitment to achieving universal health coverage worldwide. Japan's healthcare system guarantees universal access and contributes significantly to Japan's exemplary health outcomes.
Achieving Health Equity: Japan has made significant progress over the past 50 years, achieving excellent national health at minimal cost while reducing disparities among different population groups.
Role of Hospitals: Despite a strong healthcare system, disparities remain. Hospitals are critical to ensuring equitable access and improving health outcomes.
Challenges: Japan's aging population presents unique health equity challenges. In addition, health crises from natural disasters and pandemics, as well as emerging conflicts in various parts of the world, pose a growing threat to the security of human existence.
Future Directions: Japan is actively pursuing health reform to contain costs, improve quality, and promote equity; as a key WHO ally, Japan is critical to global health security efforts, especially in emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
I sincerely hope that this plenary session will contribute to a broader dialogue on health equity and guide future policy initiatives.
Fostering equity and wellbeing through HPH networks - What needs to be done?
Health and Sustainable Development FoundationInternational HPH Network (Task Force on HPH & Age-friendly Health Care)International Union for Health Promotion and Education
Professor Shu-Ti Chiou, Chair of International Task Force on Health Promoting Hospitals and Age-Friendly Health Care, and Elected Member of the Global Executive Board of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education, is a specialist of Family Medicine, Ph.D. in epidemiology and Professor of Health Policy. She is also the associate editor of Global Health Promotion, the Founding President of Health and Sustainable Development Foundation, Vice Chair of Taiwan Parliamentary Strong-Generation Policies and Economic Development Commission, and President of the Association of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Women in Taiwan.
Professor Chiou is the founder of Taiwan Network of Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH). She promoted it to become the largest HPH network in the world and was elected the Chair of Governance Board of International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services 2012-2014. She founded the Task Force on Health Promoting Hospitals and Environment and served as its Chair from 2010 to 2014, and the Task Force on Health Promoting Hospitals and Age-Friendly Health Care in 2012 and serves as the Chair from then on.
In Taiwan, Professor Chiou has been the director of two local health bureaus and the Director-General of Health Promotion Administration.
CEO of the International HPH Secretariat, OptiMedis AG, Hamburg, Germany
Professor Dr Oliver Groene is CEO of the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services and Vice Chairman of the Board at the population health management company OptiMedis AG, where the Network's secretariat is hosted.
He also holds the position of Professor at the Department of Management, Economics and Society at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. Previously, he was Associate Professor in Health Services Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Manager of the "Quality of Health Systems Programme" at the World Health Organization.
He holds an MSc and PhD in Public Health and an MA in medical sociology and organizational sciences. Oliver Groene publishes widely on quality of care and health services research topics (H-index: 45).
Technical Officer for Health Systems and Quality of Care, WHO Athens Office
Válter R. Fonseca, MD PhD is Technical Officer for Health Systems and Quality of Care at the WHO Athens Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety, WHO European Region (2023 - present).
Medical Degree (MD), by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon. Specialization in Internal Medicine. PhD in Medicine - Immunology. Postgraduation in Healthcare Management by the Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics.
Director of the Department of Healthcare Quality, Directorate-General of Health, Ministry of Health, Portugal (2018-2022). Delegate of Portugal for the Health Security Committee and Committee on Cross-Border Healthcare, European Commission (2018 - 2022). Chair of the Portuguese National Immunization Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 (2020-2022).
Gold Medal from Ministry of Health, Portugal, for Distinguished Services. Author and co-author of more than 100 peer-review papers, reports, abstracts, and book chapters.
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National Coordinator for the Swedish HPH Network and Chair of the International HPH Network
Ralph Harlid is a distinguished healthcare leader with extensive clinical experience in anesthesia and intensive care. He has served in various high-profile roles, including Healthcare Services Director in the region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. He is currently National Coordinator for the Swedish HPH network and Chair of the International HPH network.
His strategic leadership in health-promoting healthcare and his chairmanship of the Swedish branch of the international HPH-network highlight his commitment to health system improvements. An accomplished lecturer and author, Harlid has contributed significantly to medical education and practice, notably in intravenous anesthesia. He holds an MD and PhD from Gothenburg University Medical School and a specialization in anesthesia and intensive care.