To receive information of medical facilities and doctors, and the increasing need and awareness of satisfying medical service, the number of events held in Tokyo International Forum related to medical services is increasing.
Given this factor, we asked Dr. Osamu Sakai, the representative of JAPAN BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES, which acts for the development and establishment of medical specialty system though the notion of "medical for the patient" and to acknowledge the importance of the medical and medical specialist, about the medical specialist system it self and what kind of medical care is safe for patients.
Text : Yukiko Komine / Photo : Fumio Saito
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 A good many of Academies worked together for the establishment of a certain standard.
"In Japan, once a doctor passes the national exam, it is possible to practice multiple clinics like "surgery" and "medical". In this system, the specialty of the doctor and his hers knowledge, experience that the patient really needs to know is not clear.
In the western countries there has been an apparent segmentation between a general physician and a medical specialist since over 50 years and is well recognized in the society. If a doctor is to practice, there has to be a qualification for a medical specialist.
In Japan we had set up a system similar to the western medical specialty system in the past, and each academic society has certified them ever since.
But as such system were certified by each academic society, there was a problem that the regulation of certification and the program of training differed in each society and had no equal standard, and that it wasn't announced well to the public.
To improve this circumstance and to fit out a certain standard of a medical specialist, Certified doctors who are a part of the Japan Association of Medical Science and societies that had medical specialty system gathered and established the Academically Approved Doctors Conference in 1981.This became the predecessor of Japanese Board of Medical Specialties, which was established for more reinforced and solid system of the former in 2003."
What the Specialty System aims for.
"A doctor who has taken more than five years of special training and passed exams, qualifications and certified by the academic society is the definition of a medical specialist that the Japanese Board of Medical Specialties has. Also being once certified is not the end. A renewal of the certificate qualification is necessary. So that means the doctors must constantly improve their skills. The board has also outside experts as members and does third party evaluation. This improvement in quality of medical services is best of all beneficial for the patients.
Medical services are for the patients. Medical services must be put into action in patient standards. That is for those want to know their medical facilities and specialties of their doctors. We consider for that, to foster and certify medical specialists and to build a medical specialist system that is trusted by the society is our role."
Future activities of The Japanese Board of Medical Specialties
"To encourage the academic society for the improvement in quality of medical specialists, and to enhance the evaluation of medical specialists from outside, is our important role.
For example, technical fees for medical specialists. In the present medical service system technical fees for medical specialists is unaccepted. For the improvement in quality of medical specialists, a fitting reward for medical specialists with higher skills is essential. "
"And also a well balanced fostering of medical specialists in various fields is one of our problem. Today there are around 250thousand doctors, those who are certified as medical specialists are said to be around 150thousand. There are departments like pediatric or anesthesiology where the numbers of medical specialists are short. And also we must change the fact of most medical specialists concentrating in the city area.
There are societies that have medical specialists but can't notify by their medical laws. The Japanese Board of Medical Specialties must play a central role in assessing the number of medical specialists needed, and to know in which field that is. And to also compound with other academic societies and departments that can't come out."
"By the lift of embargo on the announcement of medical specialists, patients will rush to large hospitals were there are medical specialists seen on the adds and will cause a deviation. It is also important to arrange "medical linkage" and "settlement of home doctor system" which is to receive early medical care from a community based medical specialist, and to be introduced to a hospital where there is a specialist in that field if necessary."
If you understand your body mechanism, medical care and patient will come closer.
"In Tokyo International Forum there are many academic conferences, citizen courses exhibition events in many fields like the General Assembly of The Japan Medical Congress. I've heard that the "Jintai Plastomic" made a great success by its new technological human specimen opened to the public which was erstwhile only for the medical and anatomical field. This is glad news for us too. Through these exhibitions, the public people will have the chance to know more of their body mechanism. And by that, the awareness of medical care will change a lot. To understand your body is the first step of being in good health. "
"Through these events, Tokyo International Forum has played a roll in the disclosure of information of medical care. We the Japanese Board of Medical Specialties haven't gone far enough in the sense of information disclosure. We must spread our promotion activity more to the public. For example, to make a more easy to understandable web site of medical specialists is necessary and to perceive chances of communications. "
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Osamu Sakai Head director of Japanese Board of Medical Specialties.
Specialized in Internal medical especially kidney diseases. Born in 1931.graduated Jikei University in 1958. After being an instructor in the same university and studied in the United States, became associate professor and professor of 2nd department of medical care in Jikei University. Assumed hospital direction at Jikei University hospital in 1993.
Retired 1997, became honorary professor, advisor of Tokyu corporation and hospital director of the Tokyu hospital. Retired 2003.Still has many titles and positions like the Chairman of Japan Kidney Foundation, honorary member of the Japan Society of Internal Medicine. Very concerned about food for health, stays off alcohol and is devoted in playing golf. He is a gentleman with a quietly solid manner of speech
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