On January 24, 2012, JCIE joined the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency in organizing a seminar in Bangkok on Challenges and Opportunities for Achieving Universal Health Coverage. The seminar was held on the sidelines of the Prince Mahidol Awards Conference, a prominent annual meeting on global health that brings health experts, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world together to discuss cutting-edge topics in global health.
One purpose of the seminar was to follow up on some of the findings—particularly on Japan’s experience with health financing and health workforce—from the Lancet special series on Japan that JCIE published in partnership with renowned British medical journal the Lancet in 2011.
The other purpose of the seminar was to launch a new joint research project between Japan and the World Bank that will share Japan’s experiences further and promote mutual learning on how low- and middle-income countries can better cope with the challenges and constraints they face while moving toward universal health coverage. A closed workshop was organized on the following day to discuss details of the Japan–World Bank joint research project on universal health coverage.
Opening Remarks
Keizo Takemi, Co–director, Program Coordination Committee (PCC); Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE)
Session 1: Key Messages from the Lancet Special Series on Japan
Moderator
Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Public Health
Presentations:
Overview of the Lancet Series
Naoki Ikegami, Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan
Global Implications
Michael Reich, Taro Takemi Professor of International Health Policy, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
Comments
William Summerskill, Senior Executive Editor, Lancet
Michael Borowitz, Senior Health Advisor, OECD
Q & A
Session 2: Japan–World Bank Partnership Program— Research Prosepects in Developing Countries
Moderator
Timothy Evans, Dean, School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh
Research Framework
Akiko Maeda, Lead Health Specialist, The World Bank
Naoki Ikegami, Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan
A. Universal Health Coverage
[Description of UNICO — the Universal Coverage Challenge Program]
Daniel Cotlear, Lead Health Economist, The World Bank
[Developing Lessons from Japan]
Naoki Ikegami, Keio University
Q & A
Session 3: Discussion on the Research Framework of the Partnership Program
Moderator
Akiko Maeda
Comments
Kelechi Ohiri, Special Advisor to Minister of State for Health, Nigeria
Orville Solon, Professor, University of the Philippines School of Economics
Bjarne Garden, Assistant Director, Department for Global Health, Education and Research, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
Open Floor
Concluding Remarks
Kiyoshi Kodera, Vice President, japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Christian Baeza, Director, Health, Nutrition and Population Network, The World Bank
Opening Remarks
Keizo Takemi, Co–director, Program Coordination Committee (PCC); Senior Fellow, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE)
Akiko Maeda, Lead Health Specialist, The World Bank (on behalf of Mr. Cristian Baeza, Co–director, PCC)
Discussion of the Research on UHC
Moderator
Michael Borowitz, Senior Health Specialist, OECD
Brief Report of Research Outlines—Reflections on the Launch Seminar
John Langenbrunner, Lead Health Economist, The World Bank
Naoki Ikegami, Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan
Discussant
Tania Dmytraczenko, Senior Health Economist for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region, The World Bank
Open Discussion
Discussion of the Research on HRH
Moderator
Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Director, International Health Policy Program, Thailand
Brief Report of Research Outlines—Reflections on the Launch Seminar
Masamine Jimba, Professor and Chairman, Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan
Akiko Maeda, Lead Health Specialist, The World Bank
Discussant
Kelechi Ohiri, Special Advisor, State Ministry of Health, Nigeria
Open Discussion
Wrap Up (How to Bridge the Two Themes) and Next Steps
Moderator
Akiko Maeda
Plenary Discussion
