Seeking new ways to provide healthcare to its aging population while mitigating the impact of soaring healthcare expenses, the Japanese government is adopting a raft of policies to encourage medical innovation. It is promoting the use of artificial intelligence, big data and advanced robotics in healthcare, the implementation of telemedicine to promote early screenings, more frequent medical checkups and the detection of cancers.
At the same time, Japan remains heavily dependent on imported medical devices, from vascular stents and artificial joints to implantable devices of all sorts and robotic surgery. That dependence means continued opportunity for foreign firms, who can provide high quality, advanced technologies to meet the challenges afflicting Japanese society.