Results of the
"Survey Regarding the Integration of Medical Care, Welfare and Education"
March 16, 2005
The Research Headquarters Medical Care, Welfare and Education Cluster of The Japan Research Institute, Limited recently conducted a survey of trends among municipalities with a population of 100,000 or more around Japan, entitled, "Survey Regarding the Integration of Medical Care, Welfare and Education".
Background to the Survey
In recent years, a large number of combined medical care and nursing care facilities, and facilities combining nurseries, elementary schools and facilities for elderly persons, have been created. This trend is likely to gather momentum and lead to the integration of medical care, welfare and education services.
The integration of medical care, welfare and education means the provision of combined medical care, welfare and education services through existing or new facilities and operations. Besides making it possible to provide a "one-stop" service to local residents and enhance user satisfaction and convenience, this approach is likely to have the advantage for municipal governments of making it possible to rationalize operations and cut costs and encouraging an inflow of younger people.
Against this backdrop, The Japan Research Institute, Limited undertook a survey of what initiatives are currently being pursued by Japanese municipalities and where their interests lie.
1) Plans to Rebuild Existing or Build New Public Medical Care, Welfare and Education Facilities
More than 60% of local governments said they were "planning to" rebuild existing facilities or build new facilities within the next 3 years. Of these, the great majority (90%) had decided what kind of facilities were to be created through building or rebuilding.
Of those municipalities that had no plans to build or rebuild facilities or that had not yet decided what kind of facilities were to be created, a large proportion (60%) said they were "interested in" building combined healthcare (medical care), welfare and education facilities. Some 70% of these, When these municipalities were asked what aspect of combined facilities interested them, the most frequently cited aspect was "Increasing user satisfaction and convenience" (cited by 70%) followed by "Reducing costs" (20%).
2) Conditions and Motivation Required for Combination
When municipalities were asked what conditions were required for them to consider combining facilities, 70% said the most important condition was "Clarification of the benefits of the creation of combined facilities".
3) Approaches to Integration at the Municipal Level
The range of possible approaches to integration is wide and includes the "Creation of combined facilities by PFI", the "Construction of combined facilities making effective use of disused land", the "Creation of combined facilities making effective use of disused buildings", the "Construction of combined facilities making effective use of unused space", and the "Conversion of run-down facilities to combined facilities", but nearly all municipalities said they had "no particular plans" to use any of these approaches. However, the number of municipalities that have "already implemented" projects involving "Creation of combined facilities making effective use of unused space" (16% of respondents) has risen slightly.