Since its establishment in 1994, JAHIS has supported the digitalisation of Japan’s medical, long-term care, and welfare sectors for approximately 30 years.

 With the standardisation of healthcare information systems at its core, JAHIS has contributed through policy recommendations and collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The development of various standards and guidelines for electronic health records, laboratory systems, prescriptions, radiology, and other areas has helped improve efficiency and safety in clinical settings, while also serving as the foundation for the Healthcare Digital Transformation (Healthcare DX) currently being promoted in Japan.

 Faced with serious structural challenges, including the rapid progression of a declining birthrate and ageing population, shortages of healthcare professionals, and the sustainability of regional healthcare services, it is an urgent priority to sustain healthcare delivery systems and enhance the quality of healthcare in order to support the lives of the Japanese people. To this end, the government has positioned the “Healthcare DX Reiwa Vision 2030” as a key national policy.

 Initiatives to integrate institutional frameworks and digital technologies, such as the development of the Nationwide Healthcare Information Platform, the standardisation and sharing of electronic health record information, the wider use of electronic prescriptions, the utilisation of Personal Health Records (PHRs), and the DX of NHI(National Health Insurance) Reimbursement Rate Revision, have entered a phase of full-scale implementation.

 Furthermore, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is advancing in areas including AI-assisted diagnostic imaging, clinical decision support, operational efficiency, and healthcare data analytics. In addition to ensuring high-quality data, standardisation, and interoperability, it is essential to establish appropriate frameworks for explainability and governance in order to effectively harness AI for healthcare DX.

 In its 2030 Vision, JAHIS has set forth the goal of realizing a data-driven society in which people can live healthy and secure lives. Building on the solid track record it has established to date, JAHIS will appropriately incorporate advanced technologies including AI with a focus on standardisation, while bringing together expertise across the industry, in order to contribute to the sustainable implementation of healthcare DX in society and the development of the information infrastructure that will support the next generation of healthcare.

 I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support and guidance.

Masanori Suzuki
President
Japanese Association of Healthcare Information Systems Industry