Japan has seen very low mortality rates due to COVID 19 despite a rapidly ageing population owing to universal health insurance, a uniform fee schedule and a no-gatekeeping system. The combination ensures affordable access to health services for everyone living in the country.
While the Universal Health Insurance is, in essence universal to the entire population, a uniform fee schedule puts a cap on healthcare costs in the 80 percent of medical facilities that are privately owned. This is made possible by tax-based public financing that covered all the costs for tests and treatments. Not having to worry about the cost of treatment improved reporting rates resulting in early detection and isolation.
Japan’s response is evidence that ‘a crisis response will not be effective without also strengthening the underlying health system itself.’
All nations should have universal health care
Japan’s Pragmatic Approach to COVID-19 Testing
When the Virus Hit, Japan Already Had an Army of Contact Tracers
Read the full new article originally published in The Diplomat here.
Image credits: Japan Times
