Goals of the Knowledge Cluster Initiative
Towards the Creation of a Cluster Based on Advanced Preventative Techniques for Community Health
Key Areas in the Knowledge Cluster Initiative (Second Stage)
An evidence-based health care management field that provides a blanket health program to prevent illnesses (including both physical and mental care) has been mentioned as a project area with an increasing social need. Areas we term "preventative" are normally divided up into "improvements in lifestyle," "preventative vaccinations," "preventative medicine," and "screening." However, here I would like to take a look at the key areas that should be taken up in the Knowledge Cluster Initiative (Second Stage) in the Greater Sendai Area.
In aiming to create a health services industry cluster, we need to focus our energy into how we can get companies involved, and how we can increase the number of participating companies. As has been noted previously, there is an awareness among local companies in particular that, while they may nevertheless be interested in participating, this is a field where are high barriers to participation. This is due to the peculiar characteristics of health services, which are hard to evaluate over the short term, and need adjustable allowances while monitoring and restricting distribution.
Again, the creation of business chances for companies, and the promotion of company participation in the Knowledge Cluster Initiative (Second Stage) are expected to be greatly affected by "granting of evidence (quality assurance) through regional platforms." Yet on the one hand, the development of products and services connected with the Medical Practitioners Law and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law does not just have the problems of evidence, but also has a definite risk of being shunned by companies due to the complexity and length of the authorization procedures. However, on the other hand, lifestyle illnesses are becoming a major issue recently, and this is something that should be focused on in the Greater Sendai region as well.
There is also a lot of interest recently in not just the physical side of prevention, but responding to it from the mental side as well. There are a number of difficulties with its achievement goals, such as the distribution and measurement of effectiveness, as noted earlier. But despite this, we will look at the size of the effect it will have on society once complete. For the Greater Sendai region we hope to place the emphasis on the improvement of lifestyles from both the physical and mental sides.