The Japan Medical Association believes that the utilization of the National Health Record Platform, promoted by the government for medical DX, together with the Regional Health Record Exchange Network holds great potential due to their distinct functions. To elaborate, the national platform serves as a highway or bullet train, while regional networks function as community roads or local trains.
However, a FY 2022 survey conducted by the Japan Medical Association Research Institute to each regional network office inquiring about the impact of the national platform revealed that 37% of respondents were concerned about the continuity of their regional networks. Specific impacts raised included the reduction or discontinuation of subsidies, and even the termination of the regional network service itself. Consequently, it is imperative to increase awareness regarding the necessity and advantages of their combined use. This entails encouraging regional network operators across the nation, as well as service and network businesses, to deliberate and implement specific methods for collaboration and utilization.
Primarily, the purpose, effectiveness, operational methodologies, and financial resources should be reassessed in accordance with the unique circumstances of each region, with an eye towards the future of regional networks in the medical DX era. To this end, we propose considering the following perspectives:
1. Collaboration, sharing of functions, and leveraging the infrastructure of the National Health Record Platform
2. Support for the standardization of Electronic Health Records
3. Expansion of service coverage and nationwide operations
4. Facilitating a link between Personal Health Records (PHR) in the government and private sectors
5. Harnessing the potential for utilization in telemedicine, among other areas