The Japanese government is to offer access to medical records to certified start-ups in an attempt to foster innovation and investment in health care technology. Companies will be given certification through a programme run by the ministry of economy, trade and industry, which has requested JPY1.1bn ($9.6m) to oversee the scheme. As Japan's population ages, the government is looking to technology to reduce health care costs by making existing infrastructure more efficient, having previously lagged behind other countries. In April, Japan became one of only two countries – along with South Korea – that allow people aged over 65 to use their own money for healthcare.
The Japanese government is to offer access to medical records to certified start-ups in an attempt to foster innovation and investment in health care technology. Companies will be given certification through a programme run by the ministry of economy, trade and industry, which has requested JPY1.1bn ($9.6m) to oversee the scheme. As Japan's population ages, the government is looking to technology to reduce health care costs by making existing infrastructure more efficient, having previously lagged behind other countries. It invested only $35m in health care technology in 2017, compared with $4bn in the US and $550m in China.