The NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute is a member of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). This paper presents Japanese attitudes and behavior towards medical care and health from Japan’s results of the 2021 ISSP survey themed on “Health and Health Care.”
About 30% of the respondents feel their physical or mental health is “poor,” and around 40% have subjective mental symptoms including “I have lost confidence in myself.” Women have a higher percentage of those aware of physical or mental symptoms, and mental symptoms are particularly common among young women.
About 50% of the respondents agree that “people use health care services more than necessary,” substantially exceeding those who disagree (around 20%), which indicates that many people feel that health care services are excessively provided in Japan.
Meanwhile, those who trust doctors and the Japanese health care system are increasing, and 40% of the respondents consider the way the Covid-19 pandemic was handled “increased” their confidence in the health care system. Nevertheless, more than 60% feel that the treatment system for new infectious diseases is “not in place.”
More than 80% of the respondents cite that “there are” people who cannot receive necessary health care in Japan. Those who believe that the accessibility to health care differs depending on income or nationality also account for more than 70%. On the other hand, there is an increase in those who do not see it as “unfair” that people with higher incomes can afford better health care than people with lower incomes.