Final evaluation of Health Japan 21 (the second term)

<p>As part of the final evaluation of Health Japan 21 (the second term), a survey was conducted to evaluate the health promotion measures in prefectures and municipalities during the campaign.</p><p>The results of the survey showed that there was significant progress in development of the system for health promotion, such as the system for evaluating health promotion plans and the cross-departmental organizational framework, in comparison to the time when the Health Japan 21 final evaluation was conducted. Although many local governments have been collaborating with departments other than health promotion departments, such as education departments and nursing care departments, only a small percentage of prefectures and municipalities have been collaborating with town/city development departments, which is considered to be one of the challenges.</p><p>While all prefectures and roughly half of municipalities understood the situation regarding health disparities, only about 10% of prefectures and municipalities were able to identify disparities due to socio-economic factors such as income, education, and occupation.</p><p>The results of the survey also showed that many local governments have promoted initiatives in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, nutrition and dietary habits, and physical activity and exercise, and that they would like to continue promoting measures intensively in these areas. However, fewer prefectures and municipalities promoted efforts in the areas of rest and alcohol consumption, and it is considered to be necessary to present specific measures to achieve the goals in these areas.</p><p>The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is currently preparing the next plan based on the results of this final evaluation, and plans to publish it in the spring of next year. Prefectures and municipalities are encouraged to work on the next health promotion plan, which is to be launched in 2024, based on the results of the final evaluation and the next plan that will be drawn up by the national government.</p>