How does the health care system of Japan work?
Japan has a universal health coverage system that contains two main categories. The National Health Insurance (NHI) for the self-employed, retired and unemployed, 40% of the population and the Employees Health Insurance (EHI), for employees and their families, 60% of the population (Tatara & Okamoto, 2009).
Another category is a health program for the elderly, which is a growing part of the population (R, E, B, & C, 1997). It is mandatory to have insurance in Japan.
The elderly insurance is a long-term care insurance that has been introduced in April 2000. Every Japanese person aged 65 and older has a universal entitlement (PhD Takako & PhD Naoko, march 2005). Unfortunately there was no information available about the insurance and compensation for the dietician care.
The Japanese pharmaceutical market is the second largest in the world with sales of more than 6 trillion a year. Japan also contains the second largest market for nutraceutical products in the world. Popular products are the supplements like Co-Enzyme Q10, Alpha Lipoid Acid, Vitamin A & C and multi-vitamins. Other bestsellers are health foods that prevent the life-style related illnesses like heart decease, high blood pressure and stroke and nutritional supplements for beauty-care and anti-aging. (Economic department , 2010).
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