The health care system should be designed to maximize value attainable through current resources. Value-based improvements in quality and efficiency should be implemented to drive better care at lower costs. Japan’s diversity demands a health care system responsive to variations in regional characteristics.

The health care system should empower people to make the health care choices that are best for them while supporting them to play an active role in maintaining their health. The system must also recognize that aspects of health are influenced by environmental and social factors (social determinants of health) that extend beyond individual choice.

The health care system should have the capacity to address domestic health security and provide international support for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that are not confined by geography. By taking an active role in the global policy making process and working to improve the health of those around the world, Japan can create a virtuous cycle in which it improves upon its own health care system while contributing to economic growth.