Research Summary “Research on Health Promotion and Working Women” (2016)
The Japanese government has recently been increasingly focused on women in the workforce as a key component of the national growth strategy. Industry
is following suit through the implementation of various initiatives, including female recruitment action plans to increase the number of women in leadership
positions and numerical goals to assess government and industry efforts. However, while the momentum surrounding women in the workforce continues togrow, there has thus far been a significant lack of attention to key health aspects that are essential to supporting women’s entrance into and sustained
participation in the workforce. Government-led strategies must include policies that recognize the vital importance of women’s health if empowerment ofworking women is truly the goal. As stakeholders consider the various policy options, discussions should include the social and economic impact that willaccompany women-centered health promotion.
To support this dialogue, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) in collaboration with Dr. Ataru Igarashi, Assistant Professor at The University of Tokyo’s
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, conducted research on the potential socio-economic impact of increased promotion of women’s health. This
research describes women’s health and highlights current women’s health issues in Japan through international comparisons of policies related to women in
the workforce and women’s health.

Study Design
A view of the impact of women’s health promotion

1 on society from a socio-economic viewpoint
Illness-free
1,500 persons

Threedominant
women’shealthrelatedillnesses
includedin thisresearch

Breast cancer
200 persons×2

Understanding current situation and issues in Japanthrough international comparison of women’s
health promotion policies

QOL（Quality of Life）

Legislation on women’s
empowerment

Financial loss

Policies to address lowbirthrate

Cervical cancer
200 persons

Medical expense

Endometriosis
200 persons

Menstruation-related
symptoms

Using analyzed data retrieved from regularly employed women between 20-60 yearsof age (gathered through an online survey conducted by a survey company)

×＋Research Target
Group 1

Visits to gynecologist andgynecological screenings

Education on gender

Survey based on review of literature, open data, and expert interviews.
Information regarding visits to gynecologist and gynecological screenings based onquestions answered by participants of Research Target Group 1.

Summary of Selected Results
It is estimated that costs related to certain diseases specific to women have led to annual medical expenses and financial losses of at least 6.37 trillion JPY.
There is a significant relationship between quality of life (QOL), lost working time, and decreased productivity and the presence of women’s healthrelated health issues.
According to study results, 20% of survey respondents visit a gynecologist regularly. More than 50% of respondents who reported not visiting agynecologist regularly listed as their reason for not going to see a gynecologist as, “I am healthy, so there is no need to visit a gynecologist.”
Compared to other countries, women in Japan tend to engage in gynecological cancer screening less frequently. Countries with a high rate ofgynecological cancer screening offer various support services including, financial support, general practitioners who encourage patients to engage inregular medical care, and call-recall systems.

Policy Proposals Based on Research Findings
Improve rates of visits togynecologist and screening

Provide learning opportunities forboth women and men about influenceof hormones, women’s health issues,
women’s health matters that require
special consideration, the female
body’s unique characteristics, and theprevention and treatment of healthissues women face

Industry*Productivity loss refers to loss related to both absenteeism and presenteeism.

Provide educational programs on thehuman body, disease prevention andtreatment, and career planning withconsideration to women’s and maternal
health issues
Provide appropriate information onscreening and the importance ofgynecological care; provide accurate
information about available options totreat menstruation-related symptoms

Promote Healthy Companies
Government(National and Local Government)

Industry

Industry

Encourage and support employees to
get regular health checkups, including
gynecological screenings

Government(National and Local Government)

Government(National and Local Government)

Add gynecological cancer screening
to requirements of regular healthcheckups
Provide training programs about
women’s health to occupational healthprofessionals
Incentive physicians to provide
additional consultations on women'shealthEnhance education andadvocacy effortsAdd women’s health to the list ofevaluation factors within the HealthyCompany Index (In Japanese, this METI
organized initiative is referred to as“Kenko-Keiei Ranking.”)
Research the financial impact ofwomen’s health on companies andsurvey model cases of healthy
companies that prioritize women's
healthIncorporate women’s health into
efforts to achieve healthy companies

Selected Results from Study 1: The impact of women’s health promotion on society from a socio-economic viewpoint

Women with no history of illness related towomen’s health show increased QOL

Women who have experienced cervical cancer orendometriosis show increased productivity loss

Measuring total financial loss
Prevalence rate of illness
related to women’s health

Number of working women

24.74 millionwomen×

Cost at individual level

×

17.1%

（Labor Force Survey）

Medical expenses
335,000 JPY
Productivity loss
1.17 million JPY（Nohara2011）6.37 trillion JPY＝ Total Medical
expenses 1.42 trillion JPY
Productivity loss 4.95 trillion JPY

Selected Results from Study 2: International comparison of women’s health promotion policies (Gynecological cancer screening)

Gynecological cancer screening rates in Japanare significantly low• Special support for uninsured people with low incomes• Breast cancer screening is covered by health insurance

100%
81%

80%
60%

85%
75%

78%

85%

84%

65%

68%

80%

67%

41% 42%• Publicly provided financial support for screenings• Individual encouragement of gynecologist visitation by utilizing
national population database

20%Japan• General practitioners encourage patients to visit gynecologists• Publicly provided financial support for screenings• General practitioners encourage patients to visit gynecologists

40%

0%

Efforts by country to improve visitation rate

USUK

Breast cancer

Netherlands

Korea

SwedenCervical cancer

Nearly 30% of survey respondents
have never been screened for gynecological cancer(E.g., screening for cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, or breast cancer)
November 2015; n=2,091

No• Government utilizes cancer registration data to issue cancer
screening notices• Government set a screening rate goal of 50% in its “Plan to Promote
Cancer Countermeasures”• Various policies, including distribution of coupons for free visits andencouragement to visit gynecologists at the individual level

Nearly 50% of respondents who reported
not being screened for gynecological cancer cited
feeling healthy as the reason to not be screened.
November 2015; n=570; Multiple answers allowed.

46%

Healthy so no reason to go
Dislike going to hospital

27%

28%

No time due to work and family

24%

Screening inconvenient
Yes
73%

20%

Embarrased to visit
Other

14%
1%

0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
The full report can be accessed on the Health and Global Policy Institute website. http://www.hgpi.org/
For more information, please contact Oyamada at Health and Global Policy Institute. Mail: info@hgpi.org Tel: 03-5511-8521
This research was conducted with financial support from Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd. and MSD K.K. Their views and opinions were reviewed as part of theresearch independently by the research team and incorporated if deemed valid.