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Technology Assessment of Periodic Health Examinations for School Children in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2009

Akinori Hisashige
Akinori Hisashige
Affiliation:
Suzuka University of Medical Science and Technology
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Abstract

In Japan, preventive health services have been heavily concentrated in mass screening. This prioritization is also true in the field of school health. Annual mass health screenings have been provided to 21.3 million children from kindergarten to university level under the School Health Law. In 1973, periodic health examinations were extended to include screenings for renal and heart diseases. This extensive screening program has been introduced without any evidence supporting its effectiveness. Although available data relative to these screenings in Japan were examined, neither the efficacy of the tests nor the effectiveness of the screenings were observed. Moreover, costs for the tests during the initial phase amounted to US $120 million and $65 million, respectively.

Type
General Essays
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , Spring 1992 , pp. 219 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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