Development, Success Factors, and Challenges of Government-Led Health and Productivity Management Initiatives in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the Japanese government-led health and productivity management (HPM) strategy, specific initiatives, and success factors. METHODS: Self-described corporation data obtained from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for 2014 to 2019 were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Nationally, more than 8000 corporations participated in the HPM initiative, and performance improved each year. The range of public and private sector incentives supporting the government initiatives also increased. CONCLUSIONS: Success factors include matching the approach to the company's business environment, reinforcing government-led initiatives and programs, and partnering with the healthcare sector. Despite many challenges, early experience with the countrywide HPM strategy and initiatives may lead to better business outcomes and support the sustainability of Japanese society.

[General background and practical implementation of the health management service institution in Korea].

The Korean Occupational Safety and Health Act requires an employer with more than 50 employees to assign a health manager or an occupational physician. However, there are many cases where it is difficult for medium-scale enterprises to perform occupational health practices autonomously because their financial base is weaker than that of large-scale enterprises. The Korean Occupational Safety and Health Act was amended in 1990 so that medium-scale enterprises could entrust a health management service institution with their health management tasks. This system is similar to the outsourcing of medical examinations, occupational physicians, or the measurement of the working environment in Japan, but its legal background and actual activities are korea-specific, and it has some different points. In particular, the quality control of health management service institutions by legal and administrative regulations, and the multidisciplinary provision of services contribute to the development of occupational health in medium-scale enterprises. This will be a good reference for occupational health services in small- and medium-scale enterprises in the future in Japan.