Side Event Report — 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79)
Japan’s Experience in Promoting Lifelong Health
"Kenshin": Proactive prevention through comprehensive health checks and screening
held on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland
Purpose and Overview
As countries worldwide grapple with the growing burden of multimorbidity, prevention and early detection have become increasingly critical to building sustainable health systems. Early detection and timely treatment not only reduce disease burden and healthcare costs, but also contribute to maintaining productivity and workforce participation. The WHO estimates that every USD 1 invested in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can yield at least USD 7 in economic returns.
Co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva and the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (JPMA), this event aimed to share Japan's experience as one of the leading nations in achieving UHC and healthy longevity with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The event provided a platform for global peer learning, enabling participants to explore solutions adaptable to their own national contexts and to foster the development of best practices.
Opening Remarks: Initiatives by the Government of Japan
Mr. Masayuki Kamiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
Mr. Masayuki Kamiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, delivered the opening remarks. He emphasized that prevention and early detection are essential to achieving sustainable healthcare, as the number of patients with multiple conditions continues to rise worldwide, placing an ever-greater burden on health systems. He noted that this approach not only improves individual health outcomes but also helps to control healthcare expenditure and drives economic growth. Mr. Kamiya expressed strong expectations that the event would serve as a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge across countries, ultimately translating into concrete actions and meaningful international partnerships.
Presentation: Lifelong Health Management and Japan's "Kenshin" System
Dr. Masami Sakoi, Vice-Minister for Health, Chief Medical and Global Health Officer at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Dr. Masami Sakoi, Vice-Minister for Health, Chief Medical and Global Health Officer at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, presented Japan’s integrated life-course approach. He explained that Japan's system combines "Health checkups" (assessing overall health and lifestyle risks) and "Disease screenings" (detecting specific diseases early), provided throughout a citizen's entire lifespan. Furthermore, he highlighted Japan's recent digital health advancements, such as utilizing the Personal Identification Number (My Number) to introduce Personal Health Records (PHR), enabling citizens to continuously monitor their own health status.
Interactive Discussion: Country Perspectives and Global Experts
Under the moderation of Ms. Anita V.M. Erskine, who also served as moderator at the UHC High Level Forum 2025 co-hosted by the Government of Japan, WHO, and the World Bank in Japan in December 2025, representatives from several countries shared their national experiences and challenges in advancing prevention and early detection.
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Jamaica:
Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness, highlighted the challenge of premature mortality driven by lifestyle-related diseases. He introduced Jamaica's community-based "Jamaica Moves" program and the "Know Your Numbers" campaign, which encourages citizens to be aware of their own key health indicators.
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Ghana:
Speaking on behalf of Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, the Ghanaian delegation pointed to the country's "double burden of disease" — the simultaneous challenge of infectious diseases and NCDs. Key initiatives highlighted included the introduction of free primary healthcare and community-based screening programs targeting hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.
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Fiji:
Hon. Penioni Koliniwai Ravunawa, Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, reported that NCDs account for approximately 80% of deaths in Fiji. He emphasized the country's legislative efforts — including taxation and food policy reforms — as well as community wellness center initiatives as part of a proactive approach to prevention.
Mr. Tufton (Minister of Health and Wellness, Jamaica) and Ms. Erskine (Moderator)
A representative of the Ghanaian delegation
Mr. Ravunawa (Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Fiji)
Interactive Roundtable Discussion
Following the country presentations, an interactive roundtable discussion was held under the facilitation of Ms. Anita V.M. Erskine, with participants engaging around two key themes: Challenges & Solutions and Future Collaboration.
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Expert Perspectives:
Ms. Isabel Mestres, CEO of City Cancer Challenge, and Mr. Herb Riband, Executive Director of Access Accelerated, spoke to the critical importance of local implementation and health financing in ensuring that innovative medicines and prevention models reach communities in need.
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Country Contributions:
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Viet Nam shared forward-looking initiatives, including the advancement of digital health solutions and the introduction of universal health checkups for all generations from 2026.
Key Takeaways and Closing Remarks
Dr. Sunao Manabe, Vice President of JPMA
Dr. Sunao Manabe, Vice President of JPMA, summarized the key messages of the day, noting that building resilient and sustainable health systems requires tailored design and implementation that reflects each country's unique health priorities, demographics, healthcare capacity, and financial realities — and that no single model can be universally applied. He also stressed that advancing prevention demands strong government leadership and long-term political commitment, alongside robust multi-stakeholder collaboration among governments, international organizations, healthcare professionals, and the private sector. Dr. Manabe reaffirmed the innovative pharmaceutical industry's commitment to partnering through innovation, evidence generation, and public-private collaboration to support more proactive and sustainable healthcare systems worldwide.
Summary and Reflections as JPMA
The event brought together senior Ministry of Health officials from LMICs across Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Asia, along with representatives from international organizations, and NGOs, demonstrating strong interest in Japan's "Kenshin" system. Rather than a one-way presentation of Japan's approach, the peer-learning format — in which representatives from each country shared their own challenges and insights — functioned effectively, generating active discussion.
Through this event, recognition was widely shared among participants that promoting prevention and early detection is indispensable for building sustainable health systems. It was also demonstrated that Japan's experience can serve as a reference for health policy formulation and capacity building in other countries.
In addition, the Minister of Health and Wellness of Jamaica expressed a strong interest in further advancing the exchange of knowledge and experiences with participating countries, including Ghana. This reflected a growing momentum for continued international dialogue and strengthened collaboration beyond the event itself.
JPMA will continue its active engagement in global health, committed to contributing to the sustainable economic growth of LMICs and the strengthening of their health systems, as a leading voice of the innovative pharmaceutical industry.
（Naoko Iizuka, Leader of the Multilateral Advocacy Group, International Affairs Committee）