Medical care issues in Japan highlighted by the regulatory approval of the da Vinci Surgical System

Twelve years have passed since the emergence of the da Vinci Surgical System in the medical field, and highly advanced medical technology continues to develop rapidly. Surgeons are on a mission to provide better medical service every day. Yet, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare is taking a conservative stance against medical advancement. Two major issues that puzzle surgeons are the time-consuming process and delay in approval of medical devices, and limitations on health insurance coverage. The author of this article insists that now is the time to speak up for the reality that the more medical technology develops, the higher the costs that are necessary. He believes that all who are involved need to come together to share values for a better perspective.