Information Base for the People and Life
The Statistics and Information Department, Minister's Secretariat plans, implements and analyzes various surveys to support policy planning, while planning and developing information processing systems for promoting administrative informatization at the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Supports Policy Making by Means of Statistics
Statistical data are essential for making policy discussions persuasive and reliable.
The Statistics and Information Department implements large-scale, nationwide surveys concerning population, households, health, welfare, and employment/wages of workers. These surveys, together with irregular special surveys, play a significant role in the process of policy making of the ministry.
Furthermore, the huge amount of data is disclosed widely to the public, which is referred to in a variety of sectors as precious information.
Promotes Administrative Informatization at the Ministry
Administrative informatization, which aims to apply information and communication technology in administration, is being promoted throughout the government, under the "Basic Plan for Promoting Administrative Informatization".
Efforts are being made for realizing paperless and more efficient handling of clerical works with the help of networks and information systems that have been introduced into the ministry and regional offices, including e-mails, Bulletin Board, and document management systems. This is to contribute to more prompt decision of measures to be taken. In addition, Kasumigaseki WAN and networks with local governments, etc. are used for sending documents, conducting researches, and reporting research results, promoting cooperation among different administrative organizations.
At the same time, the introduction of electronic application, notification, etc. and one-stop services, which will lead to improved administrative services for the people and reduced burden upon them, is being promoted, aiming at the realization of an electronic government by the beginning of the 21st century. This is part of efforts for the establishment of a base to allow paperless completion of administrative formalities using the Internet by 2003.
In addition, information is widely offered through its homepage, aiming at the realization of administration open to the nationals.